TYPOLOGY OF CAUSE-FOCUSED STRATEGIES OF DELINQUENCY PREVENTION

• NCJ Number: 66331
• Author(s): J D HAWKINS; P A PASTOR; M BELL; S MORRISON
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 49 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-NI-99-0017
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: University of Washington
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPORTS OF THE NATIONAL JUVENILE JUSTICE ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT CENTER SERIES

Annotation

THIS PAPER PRESENTS A CAUSE-FOCUSED TYPOLOGY OF 12 DELINQUENCY PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO SERVE AS A SYSTEM FOR ORGANIZING AND CONCEPTUALIZING AND POLICY FORMULATION IN THE FIELD.

Abstract

THE TYPOLOGY IS BASED ON 12 POSSIBLE CAUSES OF DELINQUENCY AND ITS CONTROL. LINKS BETWEEN THE STRATEGIES AND VARIOUS THEORIES OF DELINQUENCY ARE EXPLORED, AND EACH OF THE STRATEGIES IS DESCRIBED. BIOLOGICAL/PHYSIOLOGICAL STRATEGIES SEEK TO REMOVE, DIMINISH, OR CONTROL PHYSIOLOGICAL, BIOLOGICAL, OR BIOPSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS ASSUMED TO UNDERLIE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. ASSUMING THAT DELINQUENCY ORIGINATES IN INTERNAL PSYCHOLOGICAL STATES VIEWED AS INHERENTLY MALADAPTIVE OR PATHOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL/MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGIES ATTEMPT TO ALTER DIRECTLY SUCH STATES OR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. SOCIAL NETWORK DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES STRIVE TO INCREASE INTERACTION AND INVOLVEMENT BETWEEN YOUTHS AND NONDEVIANT PEERS, PARENTS AND OTHER ADULTS. CRIMINAL INFLUENCE REDUCTION STRATEGIES SEEK TO REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF NORMS TOWARD DELINQUENCY AND THOSE WHO HOLD SUCH NORMS. TO INCREASE THE ABILITY OR POWER OF YOUTH TO INFLUENCE OR CONTROL THEIR ENVIRONMENTS, POWER ENHANCEMENT STRATEGIES HAVE ALSO BEEN DEVELOPED. ROLE DEVELOPMENT/ROLE ENHANCEMENT STRATEGIES ATTEMPT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO BECOME INVOLVED IN LEGITIMATE ROLES OR ACTIVITIES. SIMILARLY, ACTIVITIES/RECREATION STRATEGIES SEEK TO PROVIDE NONDELINQUENT ACTIVITIES AS ALTERNATIVES TO DELINQUENT ACTIVITIES, AND EDUCATION/SKILL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES TRY TO PROVIDE YOUTHS WITH PERSONAL SKILLS WHICH PREPARE THEM TO FIND NONDELINQUENT BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. TO INCREASE THE CONSISTENCY OF EXPECTATIONS DEMANDED OF YOUTHS FROM DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS, CLEAR AND CONSISTENT SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED ALONG WITH ECONOMIC RESOURCE STRATEGIES WHICH SEEK TO PROVIDE BASIC RESOURCES FOR YOUTHS AS A DELINQUENCY PREVENTION MEASURE. IN ASSUMING THAT DELINQUENCY RESULTS FROM THE LOW DEGREE OF RISK ASSOCIATED WITH COMMITTING DELINQUENT ACTS, DETERRENCE STRATEGIES STRIVE TO INCREASE THE COST AND DECREASE THE BENEFIT OF CRIMINAL ACTS. FINALLY, ABANDONMENT OF LEGAL CONTROL/SOCIAL TOLERANCE STRATEGIES ARE AIMED AT REMOVING THE LABEL 'DELINQUENT' FROM CERTAIN BEHAVIORS TO PREVENT YOUTHS FROM INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE TYPOLOGY PROVIDES CONSISTENT CRITERIA FOR EMPIRICALLY DETERMINING THE EXTENT TO WHICH A GIVEN STRATEGY IS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED IN A PROGRAM. PREVENTION PROGRAM DIMENSIONS AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)