Book excerpt: This hearing focused on youth violence and the importance of developing local and state solutions. Senator Fred Thompson made an introductory statement. This was followed by four panels on each of 2 days of testimony. Day one's first panel included involved students and business people from Memphis, TN. The second panel included two Tennessee mayors, the president of the Memphis Board of Education, and the Honorable Kenneth Turner, Juvenile Court Judge, Memphis, TN. The third panel included James Ball, Facility Administrator, Shelby County Training Center, Memphis, TN; Veronica Coleman, U.S. Attorney, Memphis, TN; John W. Pierotti, District Attorney General, Memphis, TN; and Robert Wood, Consultant, Agency for Youth and Family Development, Memphis, TN. The fourth panel included community health workers, advocates, religious representatives from Memphis, TN. Day two's first panel included the Honorable Don Sunquist, Governor, State of Tennessee; George Hattaway, Commissioner of Youth Development, Nashville, TN; and Rita Wadley, Commissioner of Public Health, Nashville, TN. The second panel included the Honorable Beth Halteman Harwell, State Representative, State and Local Government Committee; the Honorable Douglas Henry, State Senator, Special Select Committee on Children and Youth, and Chairman, Finance Ways and Means Committee; and the Honorable Page Walley, State Representative, Special Select Committee on Children and Youth. The third panel included administrators from various community organizations that focused on adolescent needs. The fourth panel included the Honorable Paul R. Wohlford, Judge, Juvenile Court, Bristol, TN; the Honorable Randy Camp, Judge, Crockett County, TN; the Honorable Dan Speer, Mayor, Pulaski, TN; the Honorable Bernie Swiney, Mayor, London, TN; and the Honorable C. Van Deacon, Judge, Juvenile Court, Cleveland, TN. An appendix presents additional submissions for the record. (SM)