Never Too Early, Never Too Late: Risk Factors and Successful Interventions for Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders

• NCJ Number: 172920
• Journal: Studies on Crime and Crime Prevention Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: 1998 Pages: 7-30
• Author(s): R Loeber; D P Farrington
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 24 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Council for Crime Prevention
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: Sweden

Annotation

This paper summarizes main conclusions of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Study Group on Serious and Violent Juvenile (SVJ) Offenders.

Abstract

The two main aims of the study group were to review knowledge about SVJ offenders and to determine what types of interventions could reduce their level of offending. The work of the study group was inspired by OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Offenders. The study group found SVJ offenders represent a distinct group of offenders who tend to start early and continue late in their offending. From childhood to adolescence, SVJ offenders tend to develop behavior problems in several areas, including aggression, dishonesty, property offenses, and conflict with authority figures. Typically, juvenile courts do not routinely deal with delinquency by youth under 12 years of age. Very young offenders and particularly serious or persistent young offenders, however, represent the most likely group from which SVJ offenders will develop. At first appearance before the juvenile court, SVJ offenders may not be readily identifiable because many of them are arrested for less serious delinquent acts. Early interventions in childhood and adolescence can reduce the likelihood of young at-risk juveniles from becoming SVJ offenders. Interventions should be based on public health approaches and should target known risk factors within a comprehensive community-based program in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The best interventions integrate different services, including services provided by the juvenile justice system, schools, medical and mental health fields, and child protection agencies. Interventions often have to be multimodal in order to address multiple problems, and aftercare programs are also critical to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. The study group recommends additional research that focuses specifically on risk factors for SVJ offending and that identifies protective factors in disadvantaged neighborhoods where SVJ offenders are often found. 27 references and 15 footnotes