Violence Initiative
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The Violence Initiative was a proposal for research into reducing violence in American inner cities, first announced on February 11, 1992 at a meeting of the National Mental Health Advisory Council by psychiatrist Frederick K. Goodwin, then director of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration. It was initially proposed as a large-scale program of research into inner-city violence, with the intent of identifying children and youth believed to be biologically or genetically pre-disposed to violence.[1] Goodwin further suggested that future research possibilities might include interventions and targeted treatments in order to divert these youth from possible future violence.[2]
The proposal drew public controversy after portions of Goodwin's speech which compared inner-city youth to primates in the jungle were leaked publicly.[3] The remarks were initially publicized by Peter Breggin, an outspoken opponent of psychiatric medication and biological explanations of crime.[4][5] Goodwin first apologized for the primate remarks in an interview on February 21, calling them "insensitive and careless."[6] He resigned from his position on February 27, 1992.[7]
Further controversy arose when Breggin drew a connection between the Violence Initiative and Goodwin's earlier research into the use of psychiatric drugs as a means of controlling violent behavior, ultimately suggesting that the Violence Initiative would result in widespread use of psychiatric drugs to control the behavior of inner-city minority youth.[8][9] Critics denounced the proposal as racist and called for it to be cancelled.[4][10] Supporters of the proposal countered that the proposal had been a legitimate research topic, and had become a victim of "political correctness."[2][4]