In remarks addressing the recent annual conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Attorney General Eric Holder commended the Academy for addressing the problem of children and violence, which has been a long-term "personal and professional concern."

Noting progress made since the Department of Justice began working with researchers examining children's exposure to violence a decade ago, when he served as Deputy Attorney General, Attorney General Holder stated that we now have the information needed to assess its cumulative effects.

Citing recently published findings from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's National Survey of Children Exposed to Violence, the Attorney General Holder described them as "a wake-up" call that we cannot afford to ignore and "one that I will not ignore."

Resources:

To view the Attorney General's prepared remarks, visit wwwusdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2009/ag-speech-091020.html

To review findings from the National Survey of Children Exposed to Violence, view or order the OJJDP Bulletin "Children's Exposure to Violence" at ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/enews/09juvjust/091008_2.html

For additional resources on children's exposure to violence, visit OJJDP's Safe Start Center at www.safestartcenter.org/