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Over the past decade, criminal and violent acts committed by juveniles have increased dramatically. A national crisis is engulfing this country. Over half of the people arrested for murder in the United States in 1991 were under age 25 (Wilson & Howell, 1993). ....

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.... it. One of the best predictors of aggression and violence in young people is family abuse. Being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53% (league of Women Voters of Texas Education Fund. 1994, p.3). In Houston Texas, Judge Eric Andell stated that “95% of all youth seen in court share one very predictable problem: alcoholism in the family” (league of Women Voters of Texas Education Fund. 1994, p.5). Each day, nearly 3,000 children see their parents divorce, and 59% of all children will live in a single-parent household before reaching age 18 (Edelman, 1995 p.46). Divorce often results in economi ....