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Abstract
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A cumulative protection model is proposed to explain why chronic juvenile delinquency may be amenable to prevention and how early family support and education may help achieve this important societal goal. A comprehensive review of early risk factors for chronic delinquency is presented with special attention to interactive effects. Interventions combining comprehensive family support with early education may bring about long-term prevention through short-term protective effects on multiple risks. A review of the early intervention literature reveals that the family support component is associated with effects on family risks, while the early education component is associated with effects on child risks. Both components may be necessary for effects on multiple risks and later reductions in delinquency. Implications for social policy and improvement of Head Start are discussed.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this paper by Yoshikawa was to review prevention strategies for chronic juvenile delinquency including the role of early family support and education.
METHODOLOGY:
The author used a non-experimental review of literature to identify early risk factors for chronic delinquency and the different types of support offered by families and schools.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The author found that chronic delinquency was characterized by several traits which make it particularly amenable to primary prevention. In particular, the author found that the early age of onset (age 10 to 15 at first conviction), stability of delinquent behavior (persistent antisocial behavior throughout childhood and adolescence) and lack of any specialization (versatile and varied antisocial behaviors) made chronic delinquency a promising target for primary prevention strategies. In a review of successful prevention programs, the author noted several common elements. These included early family support and education, serving urban, low-income families, and involving both a child-focused educational component and a parent-focused informational and emotional support component. The author further cited evaluation studies which have suggested that successful prevention programs must: (1) involve an intervention of at least two years; (2) provide high-quality infant day-care or preschool; (3) provide informational and emotional support focused on child-rearing issues for parents; and (4) provide pre-natal and post-natal care, education, and vocational training when it is otherwise not available to parents. The author argued that long term prevention of chronic delinquency may be possible through the short-term effects on early risk factors, the child's cognitive ability, and the parents' educational status and income level. The author proposed that the cumulative effect of social support in the family and the school is the key to preventing chronic delinquency.
AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS:
The author argued that the interventions discussed in his paper must be duplicated among diverse populations and re-evaluated. He further proposed that improvement of Head Start programs (including more involvement of parents, more family support, and programs for infants and toddlers) may be a valuable alternative to expanding any one specific demonstration project.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
Early Prevention
Delinquency Intervention
Delinquency Prevention
Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile Offender
Educational Factors
Delinquency Causes
Delinquency Risk Factors
Delinquency Protective Factors
School Protective Factors
School Risk Factors
Family Relations
Family Risk Factors
Family Protective Factors
Language: en |