Delinquency, Gangs, and Youth Violence (From Youth Violence: Current Research and Recent Practice Innovations, P 199-225, 1999, Jeffrey M. Jenson and Matthew O. Howard, eds. -- See NCJ-182754)

• NCJ Number: 182762
• Author(s): James Herbert Williams; Richard A. Van Dorn
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 27 pages
• Sale Source: NASW Press
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This review of literature on juvenile delinquency and gang violence focuses on the risk factors for these activities, observations about violence made by researchers and practitioners, findings of studies of gang membership and gang activities, and promising intervention efforts targeting violent delinquency and gang involvement.

Abstract

Risk factors for delinquency, violence, and gang involvement include individual, family, school, peer, and community domains. Correlates and causal factors for delinquency, violent behaviors, and gang involvement are evident in all areas of a youth’s environment. The challenge for practitioners is to understand how these risk factors manifest themselves in practice settings. Prevention and treatment strategies should be comprehensive in their approach and should emphasize risk reduction to achieve positive outcomes. Current violence prevention and treatment programs use three approaches: (1) universal preventive interventions, (2) selective preventive interventions, and (3) indicated preventive interventions. Promising approaches include the Prenatal and Early Childhood Nurse Home Visitation Program, multisystemic family therapy, the Gang Violence Reduction Program, Communities That Care, school-based programs such as Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership and the Gang Resistance education and Training Program, and the Boston Gun Project. 129 references