Caught in the Crossfire: the effects of a peer-based intervention program for violently injured youth

Becker, Marla G; Hall, Jeffery S; Ursic, Caesar M; Jain, Sonia; Calhoun, Deane

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.04.001

« Previous Next »Journal of Adolescent Health
Volume 34, Issue 3 , Pages 177-183, March 2004

Caught in the Crossfire: the effects of a peer-based intervention program for violently injured youth

Marla G Becker, M.P.H.
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco – East Bay, Oakland, California, USA
- Youth ALIVE!, Oakland, California, USA
- Address correspondence to: Marla Becker, Youth ALIVE!, 3300 Elm Street, Oakland, CA 94609, USA.
Jeffery S Hall, M.A.
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco – East Bay, Oakland, California, USA
- Youth ALIVE!, Oakland, California, USA
Caesar M Ursic, M.D.
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco – East Bay, Oakland, California, USA
- Youth ALIVE!, Oakland, California, USA
Sonia Jain, M.P.H.
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco – East Bay, Oakland, California, USA
- Youth ALIVE!, Oakland, California, USA
Deane Calhoun, M.A.
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco – East Bay, Oakland, California, USA
- Youth ALIVE!, Oakland, California, USA

Accepted 12 April 2003.

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the effect of a hospital-based peer intervention program serving youth who have been hospitalized for violent injuries on participant involvement in the criminal justice system and violent reinjury and death after hospital discharge.

Methods

A total of 112 violently injured youth (ages 12–20 years; 80% male; predominantly African-American [60%] and Latino [26%]) hospitalized in Oakland, California participated in a retrospective case–control study. Clients were matched by age and injury severity. Treatment and control youth were followed for 6 months after their individual dates of injury. The outcome variables of rate of entry/reentry into the criminal justice system, rate of rehospitalization for violent injuries and rate of violence-related deaths were compared for treatment and control groups using an odds ratio analysis.

Results

Intervention youth were 70% less likely to be arrested for any offense (odds ratio [OR] = 0.257) and 60% less likely to have any criminal involvement (OR = 0.356) when compared with controls. No statistically significant differences were found for rates of reinjury or death.

Conclusion

A peer-based program that intervenes immediately after, or very soon after, youth are violently injured can directly reduce at-risk youth involvement in the criminal justice system.

Keywords: Adolescence, Community health, Urban health, Violence prevention, Violence, Youth violence prevention, Youth violence