NCJ Number
152910
Date Published
1994
Length
94 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from a literature review on the effectiveness of various interventions to reduce adolescent violence.
Abstract
This review identifies approaches that should be avoided, approaches that merit cautious implementation without more evaluation, and approaches that can be characterized as "best bets." The review also highlights research and policy directions that are integral to further progress. Consistent with previous reviews and commission recommendations, this report concludes that the key to progress in addressing adolescent violence lies in obtaining a solid empirical base. Such a base depends on policy and funding to support evaluation, but it also relies on a recognition of the importance of evaluation by those who develop and implement programs. Evaluation of outcome should be a fundamental requirement of programs. At a minimum, evaluations of all programs should include the following five basic design characteristics: a description of the sample's demographic characteristics and risk or involvement level with regard to violence; a comparison group that is the same as the treated group; a description of the intervention methods applied; a measurement of violent and related behavior prior to and after the intervention; and a quantitative measure of effects. This set of parameters permits a basic evaluation of whom the program can help, whether it has some documentable effect, whether it is or is not harmful, and by what method violence is affected by the program. 146 references