The frequency of violent crime increases during the adolescent years,
with 27% of all serious violent victimizations in the
United States committed by youth under the age of 18
(Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1999; Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1999). Just as
alarming as the high rate of adolescent violence among
community samples are the clinical consequences of
violent behavior on youth adjustment outcomes. Research
among nonreferred samples finds that violent
behavior in adolescence places youth at greater risk for
continued high levels of violent behavior and other
externalizing problems in late adolescence and early