Juvenile Justice Journal, Volume IV, Number 2 (Making a Difference Issue)

• NCJ Number: 166823
• Journal: Juvenile Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (December 1997) Pages: complete issue
• Date Published: December 1997
• Length: 32 pages
• Publication Series: OJJDP Juvenile Justice Journal
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance)

Annotation

This journal presents articles, publication reviews, and news items on research and promising programs in juvenile delinquency prevention, youth violence prevention, juvenile gangs, mentoring for youth, and restitution and community service programs.

Abstract

An interview with Shay Bilchik, administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), presents his conclusion that research and practice have made clear the strategies that are effective in preventing and reducing juvenile delinquency and subsequent adult criminality. He urges a sustained public and private investment in families and communities and the systems that support them. A review of research on youth gang drug trafficking and homicide concludes that connection between drug law offenses and homicide is not basically a gang phenomenon. However, some youth gangs are involved in drug trafficking, and the growing use of increasingly lethal weapons have resulted in increases in gang homicides. The analysis concludes that preventing children and adolescents from joining gangs may be the most cost-effective long-term strategy. The program model that proves to be most effective in reducing gang homicides is likely to contain multiple and collaborating components that include prevention, social intervention, treatment, suppression, and community mobilization. Reviews of materials available online and in publications from OJJDP and other sources, order form, and list of OJJDP publications