The Social, Medical, and Economic Consequences of Childhood Exposure to Community Violence

Abstract

Community violence refers to violent crime that occurs outside of a person’s home in their neighborhood. It has major consequences for children growing up in high crime areas that extend far beyond what happens to a perpetrator and victim. Violent crime has major consequences for academic outcomes, physical and mental health outcomes, and economic outcomes, creating problems that develop throughout childhood and extend into adulthood. These problems are especially pronounced for African American children, who are more likely to grow up in high crime areas as well as face the systemic violence of police brutality. Firearms exacerbate the deadliness of community violence, and gun control is an important policy avenue that should be taken mitigate the effects of community violence.