This report provides an overview of youth violence in Virginia and a look at what some communities are doing about it. Although there is no way to measure all acts of youth violence in Virginia, the extent of the problem can be described through juvenile arrest statistics and school discipline reports. In 1997, Virginia law enforcement officials made more than 15,000 arrests of juveniles for serious violent and property offenses, and over 58,000 arrests for all juvenile offenses. The Virginia juvenile arrest rate for violent offenders is, however, well below the rate in most other states. Children from impoverished backgrounds were most likely to be involved in juvenile violence. A needs assessment survey was administered at nine youth gang prevention seminars held across Virginia. Responses of nearly 1,000 seminar participants were considered, along with the results of a study by a task force convened by the Virginia Attorney General to form recommendations to combat youth violence in the state. Findings show an array of strategies, programs, and projects concerned with juvenile delinquency and violence throughout Virginia and an equal complexity of needs. Recommendations for systemic improvements, based on the needs assessment studies, center on coordination and the exchange of information. Five appendixes contain information about funding, initiatives in other states, lists of references and resources, and a discussion of the prevention of gun violence at school. (Contains 18 graphs and 167 references.) (SLD)