Evidence for Interventions for Young Offenders

Abstract

Young offenders are an issue of global concern. Despite a greater understanding of the aetiology of conduct disorder and juvenile delinquency, the research on treatments and the use of evidence-based methods of interventions has not kept pace. This review critically and selectively examined interventions for young offenders, and organises them based on levels of care. The challenge is to intervene using empirical strategies that are implemented based on our emerging understanding of aggression.

The Empirical Status of Treatments for Children and Youth With Conduct Problems

“…However, most treatments are focused at the individual level. Despite this growing awareness for empirically supported treatments, treatment research may not have kept pace with etiological research on antisocial behavior (Karnik & Steiner, 2007). Realistically, there may continually exist a lag time between knowledge on the origins of antisocial behavior and conduct problems in childhood and adolescence and intervention science.…”

Perspectives on depression, gender and crime: Depression sometimes masked, missed and misunderstood?

“…Recently, there has been an increasing recognition of the scale of the problem, and of the significance of early diagnosis and improved interventions for depressed young offenders within the penal system (see, for example, Karnik andSteiner, 2007 andTownsend, 2007) and on community orders (Kenny et al, 2007). In addition, although studies have largely focused on boys, a significant proportion of girls in juvenile detention also suffer from major depression (over 29 per cent of girls in a meta-analysis of studies by Fazel et al, 2008), and are potentially more at risk of suicide (Wasserman and McReynolds, 2006).…”

When There Is No Blueprint: The Provision of Mental Health Services in Alternative School Programs for Suspended and Expelled Youth

“…Professionals from across disciplines tend to agree that in order to mitigate social risk factors it is necessary to provide ''wrap-around'' services that incorporate collaboration between family, education providers, and the greater community, towards the aim of supporting more healthy family environments, providing consistency and structure at home and at school, promoting the best possible educational strategies, and giving youth more opportunities to channel their free time toward more prosocial activities (Karnik & Steiner, 2007;Kutash et al, 2006;Trupin, 2007). Despite agreement about the benefits of such an inclusive approach, actualizing this is no short order.…”

“…Specifically, strategically implemented ''wrap-around'' services that shore up support from family, community, outpatient mental health and probation have been met with success (Karnik & Steiner, 2007;Milne, 2008;Trupin, 2007). Irrespective of the modality, some of the key ingredients for successful outcomes appear to be intensity, consistency, and accountability.…”