However, rates of violent crime also rose substantially during that time, indicating that length of imprisonment may not be an effective means of deterring or controlling violence. Increasing the probability of imprisonment may prevent more violence than increasing the length of imprisonment, especially in the arena of domestic violence and sexual assault. Prevention strategies have the potential of being as effective, or even more effective, in the reduction of violence as punishment by imprisonment. A better understanding of factors which lead to violence will aid in violence prevention. Effective prevention strategies require the understanding of how the potential for violent behavior develops.
Violence encompasses a large array of acts and circumstances.
However, many factors which contribute to violence are the same no matter what form the violence takes. However, the correlations and underlying reasons are not well understood. Not everyone who is exposed to these factors will commit violence and individuals are affected differently by the same factors. The factors listed in both tables are not exhaustive. We still need further knowledge of individual characteristics, circumstances or events, social and cultural processes, which encourage or support violence.