NCJ Number
182697
Date Published
1999
Length
290 pages
Annotation
This volume combines the author’s life experiences, research, and clinical observations to examine the lives of young males at risk and to offer practical suggestions on how to help troubled young boys to become good men.
Abstract
The discussion aims to help parents, educators, counselors, and community youth leaders understand what to do if a youth is having problems socially, emotionally, or academically or is involved with drugs, gangs, or violence. The author is an educator and consultant in clinical psychology who was first arrested at age 11 years and spent most of the next 7 years living in juvenile institutions or on the streets. He changed course to earn a doctoral degree in clinical psychology and a career in mentoring, counseling, and leading young men. The volume notes that the rates of drug abuse, suicide, assault, gun possession, and homicide among male youth in the United States far exceed those of young males in every other industrialized country. In addition, young males are also the main victims of violence, as well as the majority of children abused or in foster care, the majority of students in special education, and the majority of adult workers skilled or seriously injured on the job. The text examines links between young male criminality and physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; lack of mentoring by older males; the inculcation of shame by adults; child poverty and neglect; lack of economic opportunity; the media; and many other factors. The text emphasizes therapeutic, social, legal, and educational efforts that are appropriate to males and that can create in most criminogenic settings, institutions, and male behavior. Chapter reference notes, index, author biography, list of abbreviations, and list of Internet websites