Ali Baba Program: A Joint YACS and NSW Department of Education Initiative in Intervention into Juvenile Theft Behaviour (From Crime at School: Seminar Proceedings, 1987, Canberra, Australia, P 125-128, 1987, Dennis Challinger, ed. -- See NCJ-134653)

• NCJ Number: 134664
• Author(s): G Chapman
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 4 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This program was designed to assist a small group of identified children who had been engaged in repetitive theft behavior in their homes, schools, and/or neighborhoods in New South Wales, Australia.

Abstract

The program aimed to teach children how to react in a socially acceptable way to the temptation to steal. In addition, the program hoped to train children in self-concept enhancement and peer acceptance strategies and to teach decisionmaking skills. Criteria for program participation were fourfold: parents and the school were actively concerned and sought assistance with child management; thefts were serious, regular, and a longstanding problem; parents had to agree to participate in family therapy sessions; and a representative cross-section of schools was sought. Program components included 16 biweekly sessions of 30-45 minutes of one-to-one counseling; 7 weekly 45-minute sessions dealing with antitheft; and 3 consecutive, 2-hour weekly family therapy sessions. Sessions in the second component involved activities, exhibits, and discussions designed to teach behavioral self-control. It is concluded that the program, or variants of it, can be implemented in other schools. 1 reference