This examination of youth violence in the United States begins with an empirical examination of youth violence in the 1990s, exploring trends and the nature of adolescent violence. The second part of the volume examines the legal principles and specific policy options available to respond to youth violence, and the last section attempts to put the debate about youth violence into the contexts of the juvenile court and youth policy. The chapters are: (1) "The Perception of a Problem Is a Problem"; (2) "American Youth Violence--A Profile"; (3) "A Youth Violence Epidemic: Myth or Reality"; (4) "The Case of the Terrifying Toddlers"; (5) "Some Basic Principles"; (6) "Firearms Policy for the Young"; (7) "'That Malice Which Is To Supply Age': Standards for Transfer to Criminal Court"; (8) "Adolescents Who Kill"; (9) "Youth Violence and the Future of the Juvenile Court"; and (10) "Youth Violence and Juvenile Policy." (Contains 21 figures, 2 tables, and 111 references.) (SLD)