Violence Prevention--Don't Be a Victim

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, teens are almost three times as likely as adults to be victims of violent crime, and it doesn't help that many teenagers--like many adults--assume that nothing bad could ever happen to them. This is "victim mentality thinking," according to one of the safety experts featured in this straightforward video, which seeks to alert young people to potential dangers and offers strategies for self-protection. Sections on being a target, date rape, fighting, and even the dangers of the Internet are presented through interviews with teens who have been victimized, along with footage from a safety workshop, and advice from expert adults. On the plus side, the program does avoid "scare tactics" but doesn't mince words. On the minus side, the workshop footage, which looks and sounds as if it were shot with a consumer camcorder, is a bit jarring when intercut with the professionally lit interviews, and the strategies outlined are practical but rather general. On balance, this could be a solid discussion starter on a topic that teens need to hear about. A strong, optional purchase. Aud: J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)