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Breaking the Cycle of Violence: A Rational Approach to At- Risk Youth

NCJ Number
172975
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1997 Pages: 3-13
Author(s)
J Briscoe
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Because predictions indicate the number of juveniles arrested for murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault will more than double by the year 2010, solutions to violent juvenile crime must encompass prevention, early intervention, and sure punishment for chronic violent juvenile offenders.
Abstract
A growing body of statistical and ethnographic research suggests many persistent juvenile offenders cannot be deterred from committing crimes simply by toughening criminal penalties. Further, research has identified several fundamental principles on which youth crime prevention must be based: early childhood interventions for children at risk of later antisocial behavior, interventions for families with children who have behavior problems, school-based interventions, and interventions for troubled youth early in delinquency. Various research studies are cited that deal with the imprisonment of juvenile offenders, juvenile drug and alcohol abuse, the effect of gun availability on young people and associated violence, child abuse and neglect, risk factors, and effective prevention and intervention programs. Consideration is also paid to the use of progressive sanctions with juvenile offenders, determinate sentencing, and the Texas approach to juvenile resocialization. 25 notes