NCJ Number
84016
Date Published
1982
Length
0 pages
Annotation
The latest delinquency prevention approaches focus on family, school, and peer group environments to further social bonding experiences and to counteract childhood and teen-age alienation.
Abstract
Because traditional juvenile justice responses to delinquency have been reactive and ineffective, a preventive, social development approach is now emphasized. Instead of institutionalizing delinquent individuals, programs now try to change environmental influences, providing experiences that offer opportunities, skills and rewards for participation in society. Deficient parenting skills can be recouped, and programs now work for better communication and problem solving through role playing and other therapies for all family members. In the schools, success is more easily achieved through interactive teaching methods such as student team teaching, which promotes social bonding to both peers and teachers. To aid the transition from juvenile to adult roles in the community, students must be provided opportunities that expand their responsibilities, especially through work. In some communities, businesses adopt high schools and offer students job training. Youth in Action is a program through which youths themselves participate in workshops and in lobbying for more opportunities to realize youth initiatives.