René Olate, PhD (olate.1@osu.edu)Michael Vaughn, PhDEun Joo Chung, MAChris Salas-Wright, PhD

Evidence-based Community Interventions for Tackling the Problems of

Youth Violence and Delinquency in Central America

Social Work – Social Development Sweden, Stockholm

July 10, 2012

Background: Youth violence and gangs in Central America

Research: Partnership between a youth organization and researchers

Message: (“Mano Dura” or Iron fist policies failed)

Evidence-based Community interventions working in the gray area: 1. Harm reduction interventions2. Desistance strategies

Contents

The Northern Triangle of Violence: El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras

(Homicide Rate per 100,000)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Source: U.N. Development Program (2009). Informe sobre desarrollo humano para América Central 2009-2010.

Homicide Rate per 100,000: Honduras: 82.1 (6,239) El Salvador: 66.0 (4,085) Belize: 41.7 (130) Guatemala: 41.4 (5,960) Panama: 21.6 (759) Mexico: 18.1 (20,585) Nicaragua: 13.2 (766) Costa Rica: 11.3 (527)

Global Study on Homicide UNODC (2011)

NORTHERN SQUARE OF VIOLENCE

⋇ El Salvador: 66 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants⋇ More than 270% that of Latin America⋇ The second largest rate worldwide (UNODC, 2011) ⋇ Youth gangs: Mara Salvatrucha (MS) & 18th Street (18)⋇ More than 28,000 (9,566 in prison) (Policia Nacional Civil, 2012)⋇ Responsible for 30% of the nation’s homicides (Policia Nacional Civil, 2012)⋇ Responsible for 90% of the extortion-related crime (“la renta”) ⋇ Salvadoran youth ⋇ No age group is more likely to be victimized by or perpetrate violence (Cruz, 2005).

“Central America is now considered the most violent region in the world”

Violence and Youth Gangs

3/21/2012

The Impact of Drug Trafficking

$ 177.26• The value of the cocaine market

in the US has fallen dramatically in the last decade; however it has increased in Europe and South America.

• The main route of cocaine to the US is through Central America and Mexico. This is a $6 billion industry (plus $29.5 b. once it is in the US).

⋇ Risk and protective factors ⋇ Individual, family, school, peer, community Inform intervention programs and evidence-based practices⋇ Risk/protective factors is not enough⋇ Atheoretical⋇ Fail to account for mediating mechanisms

Current Research

⋇ Data collection I (2010): Purposive sample (N=208) of high risk and youth gang involved from San Salvador metropolitan area⋇ Data Collection II (2011): Increase the number of communities youth (N=351)⋇ Data Collection III (2012) : aiming 500 youth⋇ In collaboration with a high risk youth development organization that works with active gang members and high risk youth⋇ Respondents recruited by staff members by means of snowball or chain referral sampling

Longitudinal Study

⎈ Delinquency⎈ Self-Reported Delinquency Scale (SRD)

from the National Youth Survey (Elliot, Huizinga, & Ageton, 1985)

⎈ Violence⎈ SRD and Aggressiveness Scale (Thornberry

et al., 2003).

⎈ Substance Abuse⎈ Rochester Youth Survey (Thornberry et al.,

2003)

⎈ Others⎈ Empathy (Jolliffe & Farrington, 2005

Measurement

⋇ Sample Size 351 ⋇ Mean age 21 years⋇ Mean lifetime education 8th grade⋇ Male 82%⋇ Enrolled in school 28%⋇ Employed 37%⋇ Deported 6%⋇ Arrested 22%

Sample Characteristics

⋇ Olate, R., Salas-Wright, C., & Vaughn, M. G. (2012). Predictors of violence and delinquency among high risk youth and youth gang members in San Salvador. International Social Work, 55(3) 383–401.⋇ Salas-Wright, C., Olate, R., & Vaughn, M. G. (in press). Assessing empathy in Salvadoran high-risk youth and youth gang members: A Spanish validation of the “Basic Empathy Scale”. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology⋇ Olate, R., Salas-Wright, C., & Vaughn, M. (2011). A cross-national comparison of externalizing behaviors among high risk youth and youth gang members in metropolitan Boston and San Salvador. Victims & Offenders, 6(4), 356-369.⋇ Biswas, B., Olate, R., & Vaughn, M. (2011). Comparing risky sexual behavior among gang-involved youth in Metropolitan Boston, and San Salvador, El Salvador. Journal of Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 6(4), 309-313.⋇ Olate, R. & Salas-Wright, C. (2011). ¿Cómo intervenir en los problemas de violencia y delincuencia juvenil? El fracaso de los enfoques punitivos y las posibilidades del enfoque de la salud pública. Revista de Trabajo Social, 79, 7-21.

Peer-reviewed Papers

⋇ High-risk youth and youth gang involved are similar to high-risk youth in the US, but they exhibit higher levels of violence and delinquency.⋇ Youth gang members exhibit high level of risk behaviors⋇ One of the main factors that explain violence is exposure to violence: vicious cycles⋇ The second generation of youth gang members is already active⋇ Youth gangs are extremely adaptable to the environment: army in the streets⋇ Youth gangs “control” some communities ⋇ Youth gangs are growing

Summary of Evidence

Message: (“Mano Dura” or Iron fist policies failed)

1. Harm reduction interventions2. Desistance strategies

Evidence-based Community Interventions working in the gray area

Public Health Approach: Community-based Prevention and Intervention

Harm Reduction (IN):1. Drug use2. Violence3. Delinquency

Desistance (OUT) -Alternatives to gang life:1. Employment2. Marriage and

stable relationship3. Associations:

sports and churches