Strategic Opportunities for Delinquency Prevention (From Families, Schools, and Delinquency Prevention, P 291-311, 1987, James Q Wilson and Glenn C Loury, eds. - See NCJ-105609)

• NCJ Number: 105619
• Author(s): J Q Wilson
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 21 pages
• Sale Source: Springer-Verlag
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This paper profiles the characteristics of habitual juvenile offenders, recommends early childhood family-based and school-based intervention, and proposes a strategy for such intervention.

Abstract

Habitual juvenile offenders are difficult to rehabilitate after their cycle of offending has begun. The most promising approach is to identify those families with young children who are at high risk of producing habitual juvenile offenders for the purpose of providing behavioral modification experiences for both parents and children that will reduce the chance of subsequent high-rate delinquency. Such a strategy should be implemented experimentally through schools in areas with high delinquency rates. The program components would include a well-designed preschool program for 3 and 4 years-olds, a counselor to monitor children's progress and identify high-risk children, the identification and recruitment of high-risk parents for child-management training, and a 'home visitor' program to provide intensive support services for high-risk families. Independent evaluations of such an experimental strategy should prove its effectiveness before large-scale efforts are undertaken. 37 references.