Reviews the rationale and concepts involved in the behavioral evaluation of delinquents and provides several approaches and instruments for organizing information about youths in trouble. Provides a format and process for preparing a behavioral assessment report. (Author/LHW)

Families can help delinquents change. Behavioral family contracting applies the social learning approach to a series of family agreements or contracts. It provides structure, a natural system for learning and changing, commitment, and responsibility. (Author/LHW)

Reviews the rationale for social skills training with delinquents. Describes one program that uses discussion, modeling, role-playing, positive reinforcement, and shaping. Presents four scales for behavioral assessment to access social skills, assertion/aggression, violation of minor rules and regulations, and evaluation of the program by each…

Reviews various social learning and counseling approaches utilized by psychotherapists in one-to-one clinical behavior therapy. Behavior analysis, family contracting, and social skills training are used as are other office-based clinical behavior therapy techniques to help delinquents change. (Author/LHW)

Presents the social learning approaches in group homes for delinquents as an alternative to institutionalization. Describes two behavioral group homes that are not only effective but cost less than institutions. (Author/LHW)

Describes three types of theories of crime and delinquency. Notes why arrest, juvenile justice, and probation do not seem to work. Describes delinquent behaviors which are maintained by consequents. Discusses resistance and noncompliance as behaviors to be specified, analyzed, and addressed directly. (Author/LHW)

Reviews the application of social learning approaches to helping delinquents change in institutions. Incarceration is not effective in changing delinquent behavior, and may even foster it through exposure and influence of delinquent peer models. (Author/LHW)

Reviews probation training programs and probation contracting, the application of social learning to this field. Probation and the social learning approach are compatible: both stress intervention and prevention of further problems directly in the natural environment by natural mediators. (Author/LHW)

Presents social learning perspectives on delinquency. Reviews programs that have tried to understand, prevent, or change delinquent behavior in the community. (Author/LHW)

Focusing on a behavioral analysis of nonproblematic youth, attempts to determine why some youths in high crime areas remain nondelinquent. A preliminary formulation of nondelinquency says these youth are strongly influenced in a noncriminal direction by a significant other. (Author/LHW)

Four basic social learning principles are presented along with examples of how each is utilized first to learn delinquent behavior and then in helping delinquents change. (Author/LHW)

Reviews programs to prevent delinquent behavior in school, behavioral analysis of absenteeism and truancy control, behavioral contracting in schools, parent training for changing behavior in school, vandalism reduction, behavioral school consultation, and Skill Streaming in schools. (Author/LHW)

Reviews theoretical and programmatic issues in the development of a social skills training program for court-adjudicated youths. Discusses the relationship between a youth's social competence and his or her likelihood of engaging in inappropriate or illegal activity. (Author/AOS)

Shows that employment skills can be taught to delinquent youth and that this is a promising approach to delinquency treatment and prevention. The social learning approach for employment training is outlined. (Author/LHW)

The 14 articles in this theme issue are divided into five categories: Youth and Literature--Issues and Opportunities; Portrayals of Children and Youth in Literature; Youth and Their Parents in Literature; Death and Bereavement in Young People's Literature; and Epilogue. The final section focuses on Literature and Youth Development--Implications…