Chapter 6

Delinquency Prevention

and Intervention

Chapter OutlineI. Delinquency Prevention ProgramsII. The Theory of Delinquency

PreventionIII. Early Pre-Development

Intervention and PreventionA. Risk-Focused Prevention ProgramsB. Family Treatment and

Intervention

IV. DiversionA. Diversion ProgramsB. Diversion Effectiveness

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Chapter Outline Continued

V. School Based ProgramsVI. Community-Based Programs

A. MentoringB. Job ServicesC. Recreational and Time Occupying

Programs

VII. Teen CourtsA. Teen Court Models and ProcessB. Teen Court Effectiveness

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Chapter Outline Continued

VIII.Programs Focusing on Status Offenses

IX. What Does Not WorkA. Scared Straight

X. What Does WorkA. Cost Effectiveness of Prevention

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Delinquency Prevention Programs

Delinquency prevention is the subject of strong opinions and political arguments. The idea is simplistic enough; the best way to deal with juvenile delinquency is to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

The philosophy behind many delinquency prevention programs is very appealing: teach juveniles the skills they need, educate juveniles so they will not recidivate, and provide programs to occupy a juvenile’s time so they will not commit crimes.

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Delinquency Careers That Had Four Or More Referrals

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Office Of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

7 Divisions of OJJDP1. Research and Program Development2. Training and Technical Assistance3. Special Emphasis4. State Relations and Assistance5. Information Dissemination 6. Concentration of Federal Efforts

Program7. Child Protection

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Early Pre-Delinquent Intervention and Prevention

Perry Pre-School Program: A two-year intervention that operates 2.5 hours per day, 5 days a week, 7 months per year, and includes weekly home visitations by teachers.

Project Head Start: Designed to prevent academic problems among economically disadvantaged children by providing a broad range of social services centered around a creative pre-school curriculum.

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Risk-Focused Prevention Programs

The SHIELD program uses the contacts that police officers make in the course of their duties to identify youth who are at risk of becoming involved in violent behavior, substance abuse, gangs, or other delinquent activities.

The Children At Risk (CAR) drug and delinquency prevention program is for high-risk adolescents ages 11-13.

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Families and Schools Together (FAST)

The goal is to promote protective factors for juveniles at risk of becoming delinquent through: Enhancing families by strengthening the parent-child relationship.

Preventing school failure / improving the child’s behavior in school.

Preventing alcohol and drug abuse in the family by increasing the families’ awareness and knowledge.

Reducing the stress that familiesexperience from daily life by developing an ongoing support group for parents.

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Diversion

A general term for a wide-range of programs that keep juveniles who commit crimes out of the formal juvenile justice system.

The basic theory that guides diversion programs is that most youths will at some point commit some type of delinquent act.

The guiding principles are rooted in labeling theory.

Most diverted juveniles are first-time offenders.

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Hands Without Guns

A public health and education campaign that gets youths involved in violence prevention program in their communities. A series of sessions teaches youths about the problems of violence and guns and trains them to initiate a violence prevention program in their neighborhood.

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Juvenile Mentoring Program (JUMP)

Seeks to support one-on-one mentoring programs for youths at risk of educational failure, dropping out of school, or involvement in delinquent activities, including gangs and drug abuse.

Funded by Congress to address two critical concerns: Poor school performance Dropping out of school

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Goals Of JUMP Reduce delinquency and gang participation

Improve academic performance

Reduce drop-out rate

Provide general guidance

Promote personal and social responsibility

Increase participation in elementary and secondary education

Prevent illegal drugs and firearms usage

Discourage involvement in gangs

Encourage participation in service and community activity

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Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BBBSA)

46% less likely to use drugs

27% less likely to use alcohol

52% less likely to skip school

37% less likely to skip class

More confident in school work

1/3 less likely to hit someone

Better in academic behavior

More likely to have good relationship with parents.

Get along better with families

Better relationships with peers

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School To Work (STW) Opportunities Act

Three core elements:1. School-based learning that includes

blended academic and vocational training.

2. Work-based learning that involves youth in the work-place.

3. Connected activities that identify that identify work-based learning opportunities and students with employers.

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Teen Courts

Benefits of Teen Court:1. Accountability2. Timeliness3. Cost savings4. Community cohesion

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Offenses Handled in Teen Court

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Overview Of Teen Court Referral Process

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