Primary Prevention

Primary prevention programs are designed to address the root causes of juvenile delinquency before they occur. These programs are typically aimed at the general population of children and youth, and they may focus on a variety of risk factors, such as poverty, family dysfunction, lack of education, and exposure to violence.

Example:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentoring program that matches youth with adult mentors. The program is designed to provide youth with positive role models and support, and to help them develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.

Intended purpose: To prevent juvenile delinquency by providing youth with positive role models and support.

Target juvenile population: All youth, with a focus on those who are at risk for delinquency.

Effectiveness: Big Brothers Big Sisters has been shown to be effective in reducing juvenile delinquency and recidivism. A meta-analysis of 47 studies found that youth who participated in the program were 46% less likely to engage in delinquent behavior than those who did not participate.

Secondary Prevention

Secondary prevention programs are designed to intervene early with juvenile offenders who have already engaged in delinquent behavior. These programs aim to prevent further delinquency and recidivism by addressing the underlying risk factors that contributed to the offender’s initial offense.

Example:

• Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a family-based intervention that teaches families how to communicate more effectively, resolve conflict peacefully, and set and enforce clear rules and expectations. FFT is designed to improve family relationships and reduce the risk of delinquent behavior.

Intended purpose: To prevent further delinquency and recidivism by addressing the underlying risk factors that contributed to the offender’s initial offense.

Target juvenile population: Juvenile offenders who have engaged in delinquent behavior but are not yet serious or chronic offenders.

Effectiveness: FFT has been shown to be effective in reducing juvenile delinquency and recidivism. A meta-analysis of 38 studies found that FFT was more effective than other types of family therapy in reducing recidivism.

Tertiary Prevention

Tertiary prevention programs are designed to rehabilitate serious and chronic juvenile offenders. These programs aim to reduce the risk of recidivism by teaching offenders the skills and knowledge they need to live productive and law-abiding lives.

Example:

• Scared Straight! is a program that brings juvenile offenders face-to-face with incarcerated adults. The program is designed to shock and scare youth into changing their behavior.

Intended purpose: To rehabilitate serious and chronic juvenile offenders and reduce the risk of recidivism.

Target juvenile population: Serious and chronic juvenile offenders.

Effectiveness: The effectiveness of Scared Straight! is controversial. Some studies have shown that the program is effective in reducing recidivism, while others have shown that it has no effect or even increases recidivism.

Conclusion

Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention programs can all play a role in reducing juvenile delinquency and recidivism. However, it is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The most effective programs are those that are tailored to the specific needs of the juvenile population being served.

In addition, it is important to note that prevention programs are most effective when they are implemented in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. This means that different types of programs should work together to address the multiple risk factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency.

My perceptions of the effectiveness of these programs

I believe that primary prevention programs are the most effective way to reduce juvenile delinquency in the long term. These programs address the root causes of delinquency, such as poverty, family dysfunction, and lack of education. By addressing these risk factors early on, we can prevent youth from engaging in delinquent behavior in the first place.

I also believe that secondary prevention programs are important. These programs can help to prevent further delinquency and recidivism by addressing the underlying risk factors that contributed to the offender’s initial offense. However, it is important to note that secondary prevention programs are not a substitute for primary prevention.

Tertiary prevention programs can be helpful for rehabilitating serious and chronic juvenile offenders. However, it is important to note that these programs are often expensive and difficult to implement effectively. In addition, there is limited evidence on the long-term effectiveness of tertiary prevention programs.

Overall, I believe that the most effective way to reduce juvenile delinquency is to implement a comprehensive and coordinated approach that includes primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention programs.

How I came to my conclusion on effectiveness

I came to my conclusion on the effectiveness of these programs by reviewing the research literature. I looked at meta-analyses of studies that