NCJ Number
170110
Date Published
1998
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This chapter discusses the objectives, focus, and content of family treatment programs for juvenile offenders and their families.
Abstract
The chapter examines the research literature that documents the child's family life experiences, including extreme parental disciplinary practices, neglect, and child abuse as contributors to deviance and delinquency among youths. The chapter also explores several different family intervention approaches, focusing on short-term crisis intervention and behavioral contracting. Both of those approaches may use a family systems approach as well as education of parents in effective parenting. The article includes discussion of related issues, such as: at which stage of the juvenile justice process family treatment should take place; mandatory versus voluntary treatment; resistance to attending family counseling; and background and training of staff. A review of the studies of the effectiveness of family treatment programs concludes the chapter. The chapter includes discussion questions based on the information presented. References