| BACKGROUND |
What
Works in terms of Crime
Reviews of the empirical research on delinquency treatment and prevention have shown that the most suitable approach incorporates a social-ecological view which regards anti-social behavior in youth as multidetermined and multifaceted. Programs which have shown appreciable differences in youth offense rates are those which are based on three principles: (1) the risk principle which
manages and treats offenders
(2) the need principle which
matches the appropriate target
(3) the responsivity principle
which employs the styles and
Other "what works" literature has shown that it is imperative that more intensive services are provided to higher risk offenders, that the program staff relate interpersonally in sensitive and constructive ways and are trained and supervised appropriately and that programs be implemented with a high degree of integrity. When we speak about rehabilitation for young offenders, this may include clinical treatment interventions but should be conceptualized much broader to include programs and services which: * Assist the young person
in developing bonds to
* Help him/her to develop
skills required to function in socially
* Provide access to meaningful
opportunities to exercise
* Reduce the influence of
delinquent peers as a socializing
Correctional rehabilitation programs tend to be directed at the development of skills or competencies related to criminogenic factors associated with offending such as: * Cognitive skills training which address anti-social thinking * Values training * Social skills training * Life skills training * Educational, pre-employment and job training * Psycho-educational counselling
and training programs
The research on the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for youth suggest that while not conclusive, the more promising programs involve: * Psycho-educational interventions
which address social and
* Residential therapeutic communities/ milieu * Group counselling (i.e.
substance abuse, anger
* Intensive community supervision
paired with non-custodial
A number of outcome studies have shown that the gains that have been achieved in residential or custodial programs tend to diminish upon release to the community without a continuous monitoring of and program involvement at the community level. Further, studies have shown that intensive community based programs with targeted rehabilitative interventions have been shown to be as effective and in some cases more effective than custodial programs for chronic young offenders. Effectiveness of Rehabilitation
Measures Depends on Program Implementation Factors:
* Use of appropriate modes
of intervention based on social
* A multiplicity of available
interventions to address differing
* Consistent application
of interventions to ensure program
* Quality assurance of program
design and delivery including
* Strong theoretical base or mission for the program Research on recidivism has found that the first several months after release from custody is the period in which there is the highest amount of recidivism and if programs can be designed to promote successful community re-entry with follow-up in a transitional community based program, there is substantial increases realized in reducing recidivism and enhancing success. We should be careful not
to suggest that a program has not been successful if a young person re-offends.
While rehabilitative programs are designed with a goal of reducing recidivism,
it is essential that other forms of program success are included in the
mix and not totally rely on measures of recidivism to determine success.
For most young people, the offending behaviour is part of growing up, of
testing the limits, of taking risks, of asserting their independence. It
may also be an indication of boredom and the absence of anything useful
or meaningful to do. It may be a reflection of that awkward stage of life
where one feels grown up but not able to participate fully in the world
of adults. Generally, the offenses that they commit are relatively minor
and decrease in frequency as they grow older, mature and find a way to
participate in and contribute to society. We can reduce occasional or temporary
offending by young people by helping them deal with the stress associated
with the turbulence of adolescence and finding ways of involving young
people in useful and meaningful activities. Educational and recreational
activities to which all have equal access and
Research shows that involving low-risk, low-need youths in correctional programs may actually increase their chances of re-offending. Our best preventive strategy may be to restrain the use of the youth justice system, to do less criminal justice processing not more, and to let parents and community resources outside of the justice system deal with the young person. We know that a small group of young offenders persist in their criminal behaviour into adulthood. Research suggests that early intervention targeted at socially and economically disadvantaged youth can reduce the likelihood of long-term criminal activity.
* Project
made possible through a grant by Department of
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