NCJ Number
153791
Date Published
1990
Length
133 pages
Annotation
This document presents a conceptual framework for assessing the costs of juvenile crime in Australia, and presents some preliminary estimates of the direct costs of crime as well as crime prevention.
Abstract
The conceptual framework was developed to understand the benefits of juvenile crime and delinquency avoidance; the model distinguishes between costs attributable to the actual commission of juvenile offenses and costs attributable to crime prevention. The direct cost of juvenile crime (including car theft, burglary, vandalism, shoplifting, and violent crime) is estimated to be at least $610 million. Incarceration of youthful offenders costs about 12 times as much as releasing juveniles under some form of noncustodial supervision; both approaches have been equally effective in terms of recidivism. The authors present an economic argument for the diversion of resources away from the criminal justice system and into social programs designed to prevent delinquent behavior. This analysis has confirmed the efficacy of preschool, school, and parenting programs in reducing juvenile delinquency. Some wilderness, recreational, job placement, and community-based programs appear to be promising in terms of reducing crime rates. In addition, situational crime prevention strategies have been cost-effective in reducing certain types of juvenile crime. 19 tables, 10 figures, 134 references, and 4 appendixes