NCJ Number
101458
Date Published
1986
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This chapter examines cross-cultural trends in juvenile delinquency and interventions, with an emphasis on the characteristics of school misbehavior and violence and efforts at primary and secondary prevention being undertaken in Scandinavia.
Abstract
Data from many countries indicate increases in juvenile delinquency, particularly violent crime, and the increasing involvement of younger children in delinquent behavior. In the area of intervention, increasing attention is being paid to nonpunitive approaches such as decriminalization, diversion and community-based treatment, and the role of self-esteem and social identity in juvenile delinquency. School violence and misbehavior reflect children's problems in adjustment and a lack of person-environment fit. An extensive prevention campaign in Norway focuses on teacher training as a means for controlling student aggression and bullying. It consists of a booklet on pertinent research and its practical implications; teacher personal growth, social interaction skills, didactic and curricular skills, and educational coping skills training; and school-home collaboration. Additional interventions to be found in the Scandinavian countries include behavior modification, psychodynamic and humanistic interventions, prosocial values training, school-modification programs, community interventions, and student self-control training. 1 table, 2 figures, 81 references.