The Surgeon General?s report on youth violence, released in January 2001, notes that youth violence is a serious public health issue that affects millions of children and their families. A shared commitment to ending youth violence has led to a strong partnership between the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. The partnership is dedicated, in part, to promoting the Blueprints for Violence Prevention initiative, which identifies and disseminates information nationwide about violence prevention and intervention programs that have been found effective. The Youth Violence Research Bulletin Series is the most recent endeavor in the OJJDP?CDC partnership. The series presents the latest research findings on critical topics related to youth violence, including gangs, firearms, suicide prevention, and the impact of violence on youth. The Bulletins discuss research in a way that makes it relevant to both the public health and juvenile justice fields and are written in a style that is accessible to all readers, including practitioners, service providers, parents, and policymakers. By focusing on the issue of youth violence and emphasizing the public health benefits of reducing violence among youth and within families, OJJDP and CDC hope to help all children have the opportunity to lead safe and productive lives. Contains 19 graphic illustrations of statistical information.