Racial disparities in violence exposure and criminal justice contact are a subject of growing policy and public concern. We conduct a large-scale, randomized controlled trial of a six-month behavioral health intervention combining intensive mentoring and group therapy designed to reduce criminal justice and violence involvement among Black and…

This is the protocol for a Campbell systematic review. The proposed systematic review question is: What is the effectiveness of arts interventions for at-risk and offending children and young people (8-25 years)? There are three objectives: (1) To evaluate evidence on the effectiveness and impact of arts interventions on keeping children safe from…

This case reports on a qualitative study that used grounded theory methodology to explore how interventions embedded in the principles of restorative justice contributed to a reduction in youth offending. These interventions were the focus of this study as it sought to elicit the perceptions of four Youth Offending Team workers about the merits of…

Aims: Previous research has documented a clear association between drinking alcohol and engaging in criminal activity. However, it is unclear how this relationship is formed and maintained in young people. Such knowledge could be instructive in the appropriate design and effectiveness of prevention and intervention strategies. The aim of the…

Social-emotional learning programs are increasingly being implemented in U.S. schools to address a wide range of problematic behaviors (e.g., bullying, delinquency) and to promote academic success. The current study examined the direct and indirect impact of the Second Step Middle School Program (Committee for Children, 2008) on bullying,…

A recent Meta-Analysis conducted by Apsche, Bass & DiMeo (2010) provided astonishing evidence regarding Mode Deactivation Therapy's (MDT) ability to effectuate change in youth with delinquent traits. Following is a brief review of the results presented in the analysis as a way of highlighting the capacities of MDT and promotes the implementation…

A sample of middle school students was investigated to determine whether an intervention group called Children Having Incarcerated Parents (C.H.I.P.S.; King-White & Lipford-Sanders, 2007) was an effective intervention for delinquent behavior, academic achievement, self-esteem, attendance, and aggressive behavior in children of incarcerated…

The theme of this issue--discovering virtues in delinquents--is an excellent reminder of the power of perception. "Virtue" and "delinquents" are two words that do not seem to belong in the same sentence, and by positioning them together, one is challenged to perceive them in a different way. What one often fails to recognize is that seeing a…

A pilot project that combined group work methods with behavior modification theory was conducted among juvenile parolees. The goals were to teach group counselors group work techniques and examine the use of groups as a method of intervention with youths on parole. (Author)

Personal and environmental transitions that contributed to positive behavioral changes and the decisions to change are uncovered in in-depth interviews (N=20). Significant factors include maturation; respect and concern for children; fear of physical harm, incarceration, or both; contemplation time; and support and modeling. Implications for…

This authoritative, highly readable reference and text is grounded in the latest knowledge on how antisocial and criminal behavior develops in youth and how it can effectively be treated. Contributors describe proven ways to reduce juvenile delinquency by targeting specific risk factors and strengthening young people's personal, family, and…

Delinquency intervention and research have undergone changes in recent years. One new line of research has been aimed at mapping out juvenile criminal careers. Findings from this research suggest that involvement in technically delinquent activity may be a transitory, developmental phenomenon related to adolescence. Youth appear to be increasingly…

Based on a matching-to-sample philosphy, modification of the destructive communication patterns of delinquent families was attempted by systematically shaping in behaviors characteristic of adaptive family systems (increased clarity). Based on direct observation of family interaction in a discussion task, the results indicated a significant change…

The Youth Development Project is a research-based program for delinquency prevention. The project tested three strategies for children and youth at-risk: social skills training, cooperative student team learning, and parent school liaison. Data collection and planning began in the 1983-84 school year and intervention was started in 1984-85.…

This paper describes application of a prosocial skills program called Skillstreaming with 12 elementary students diagnosed either with emotional and/or behavioral disorders or with high incidences of school disciplinary actions. The Skillstreaming program has three components: anger management, moral reasoning, and social skills development. The…