Target Juvenile Needs to Reduce Delinquency

• NCJ Number: 220751
• Journal: Criminology & Public Policy Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: November 2007 Pages: 763-772
• Author(s): Peter R. Jones; Brian R. Wyant
• Date Published: November 2007
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research); Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This essay reviews key studies that demonstrate the gains in knowledge about the strategies that are effective in preventing and treating delinquency.

Abstract

Several key studies have reviewed the literature and provided clear indications of the types of programs that are successful, the types of juveniles with which they are successful, and the conditions under which success is maximized. Gendreau and Ross' (1987) meta-analysis of over 200 rehabilitation studies conducted between 1981 and 1987 showed major reductions in reoffending over time (up to 80 percent) across a wide range of community and residential settings and types of delinquent youth. Lipsey's (1999) meta-analysis of over 200 research studies found that programs with the strongest effects on reoffending incorporated individual counseling, developed interpersonal skills, offered behavioral programs (e.g., family therapy), and included multiple services. Latimer's (2001) meta-analysis found that family intervention treatment, compared with traditional nonfamilial responses, significantly reduce reoffending rates for juvenile offenders. Kurtz' (2002) review of the literature on the effectiveness of delinquency interventions found that traditional deterrent approaches (e.g., boot camps or transfer to criminal court), probation, and parole produced little if any reductions in delinquency. On the other hand, treatment programs were effective when they included cognitive-behavioral and multimodal approaches that addressed specific factors underlying delinquent behavior. Welsh and Zajac's (2004) study of 118 drug treatment programs showed the importance of the precise implementation of drug education and outpatient treatment programs that matched interventions to juveniles' developmental needs. The literature is consistent in showing that the longer a drug-abusing youth is in treatment and/or participates in aftercare programs, the less likely he/she is to relapse into drug abuse. The way forward is to improve the distribution and use of information about program performance and improve standardized data collection on existing and emerging programs. 27 references