NCJ Number
186897
Date Published
1999
Length
96 pages
Annotation
This paper addresses the gap in knowledge about current legal and treatment approaches to Canadian children under 12 years old who commit offenses.
Abstract
The authors provide background information relevant to the development of legal and treatment interventions aimed at promoting success in school-aged children who are at risk of committing or have already committed mild to serious offenses. The paper focuses on four areas: risk factors associated with children under 12 years old who commit offenses; a survey of provincial and territorial legislation and practices relevant to this age group of offenders; a review of interventions that promote success in school-aged children under 12 years old who commit offenses; and legal and treatment recommendations for such children. The report advises that risk factors for this age group of juveniles are best clustered under three organizing categories: family, child, and amenability. Specific factors such as early onset of offending, academic failure, peer rejection, and inconsistent and harsh parenting are markers that in various combinations can project a child under 12 years old onto a delinquent trajectory. This report indicates that few Canadian jurisdictions have programs that target offenders under 12 years old. Other conclusions of the report are that the risk of early offending can be reduced by community and school-based prevention programs that target both particular populations and particular children identified as at risk. Preferred programs for children with behavior problems involve their parents in parent management training. Preferred interventions match identified risks and needs and focus on gender, socioeconomic, and cultural differences. Generally, there is little evidence to support the effectiveness of punitively oriented correctional approaches for children under 12 years old. 127 references and extensive charts, tables, and figures