To millions of Americans the fear of being the victim of a violent crime is ever-present. While definitions of criminal violence vary, one common factor is the use of or the threat of force on the victim by the perpetrator. Criminal violence manifests itself in a variety of offenses, including homicide, assault, family-related abuse, rape and sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery, organized crime, and in emerging crimes, such as terrorism, hate crimes, the violent activities of militias, and violence in schools. This chapter discusses the elements of each of these crimes and statistics regarding the commission of these offenses in the United States. The chapter then covers the relationship between violence and gun control.
