Young Offenders and Alcohol-Related Crime: What Interventions Will Address the Issues?

• NCJ Number: 133379
• Journal: Journal of Adolescence Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1991) Pages: 245-253
• Author(s): M McMurran
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Presented at the Midlands Alcohol Research Group Conference, Birmingham, England, December 5, 1990.

Annotation

Although most young offenders who commit alcohol- related crime will grow out of both crime and drinking, interventions aimed at reducing crime through reducing drinking or reducing drinking to impact on health and social problems are often important.

Abstract

The research literature on the drinking habits of young offenders allows inferences to be made regarding what types of interventions are most effective. Since controlled drinking is achievable by young people with fewer alcohol- related problems, moderation rather than abstinence is a more realistic goal of intervention. Behavioral self-control training is one type of intervention which can achieve moderate drinking; self-help manuals, peer interventions, and simulated bar settings are several ways through which this training can be implemented. Studying the effects that young offenders expect alcohol to have under various circumstances may enable better matching of clients with programs. 28 references