Delinquency Prevention in the United States

Evidence-Based Delinquency Prevention for Minority Youth in relation to Crime and Race

Evidence-Based Delinquency Prevention for Minority Youth is included in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime (1), beginning with: A number of general approaches and specific programs have been found to be effective in reducing delinquent behaviors among youth. The first studies conducted to these ends, however, largely relied on samples of White males, as did the study of crime in general. Criminologists are making progress in this respect, however, implementing violence-and delinquency-prevention programs in urban, ethnically diverse areas. More recently, scholars are investigating gender-specific programs, or those designed to meet the specific needs of youth of a particular gender, assuming that males and females have differing experiences of crime and its consequences. Some evidence also suggests that youth of different racial and ethnic backgrounds differ in their experiences of crime, though “race-specific programming” has yet to emerge as a unique field of criminological study. Programs have been developed specifically for youth of particular racial and ethnic backgrounds, to meet their specific needs in a culturally sensitive manner.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Entry about Evidence-Based Delinquency Prevention for Minority Youth in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime

See Also

Delinquency Prevention in relation to Crime and Race

Delinquency Prevention is included in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime (1), beginning with: Delinquency prevention refers to intervening in the lives of youth to deter involvement in unlawful acts. It includes programs or policies that involve daycare providers, nurses, teachers, social workers, recreation, youth mentors, parents, faith-based groups, and criminal and juvenile justice agencies. Delinquency prevention is important to understanding race and crime because many youth who are at risk for delinquency are members of minority groups that are overrepresented in juvenile justice. This section presents a brief history of delinquency prevention and identifies different approaches to prevention, including those representing public health and developmental perspectives. The history of the prevention of juvenile delinquency in the United States parallels the history of juvenile justice in the United States. Preventing delinquency has been of interest since the first houses of refuge that opened in the early 1800s.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Entry about Delinquency Prevention in the Encyclopedia of Race and Crime

See Also

Delinquency Prevention in the Criminal Justice System