NCJ Number
186605
Date Published
July 1995
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This document examines and evaluates youth-oriented anti-crime programs.
Abstract
The document considers whether such programs as family therapies, recreation, midnight sports leagues, and school-based conflict resolution prevent or decrease youth delinquent behavior. It also discusses whether these programs actually make a cost-effective contribution to controlling crime. Research findings include the following: (1) there is a strong foundation for identifying risk factors early in life, which enables society to address the underlying conditions that propel some youths to crime; (2) tougher law enforcement and stricter sanctions are unlikely, in the absence of effective crime prevention, to reduce crime significantly; (3) a number of youth-oriented prevention strategies have documented impressive results in reducing criminal, delinquent, and pre-delinquent behavior among young people; (4) further investments in research and evaluation of crime prevention are clearly justified; and (5) States and Federal Government need to develop and implement prevention programs aggressively, taking care to learn from experience. Notes, appendix, resources