NCJ Number
106379
Date Published
1987
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This chapter reviews reserach into juvenile delinquency risk assessment and juvenile delinquency prevention strategies.
Abstract
In general, research has identified a number of indicants of risk, including behavior problems and patterns, individual characteristics (e.g., impulsivity, social skills), family factors (demographics, systemic functioning), and sociological factors (ethnicity, socioeconomic status, peer group membership). Despite such findings, none of the variables correlates well enough to allow its sole use in risk identification, nor do findings provide concrete directions for actual preventive interventions. Residential prevention programs focusing on creating an optimal school environment for antisocial children appear to be effective in improving academic skills and fostering prosocial values and behavior change. Community-based programs aimed at improving behavior management skills of parents, teachers, and peers also show some successes. However, to be truly effective, prevention will have to focus on major environmental restructuring rather than just limited or periodic special experiences. 77 references.