Youth delinquent behaviors have been a consistent problem facing families in the recent decades. These behaviors cause tension within family systems and often result in serious consequences not only for the youth exhibiting behaviors, but also for the entirety of the youth’s family. Recent research has provided several different effective treatment and prevention techniques for youth delinquency. Multisystemic therapy, a therapy focusing on the importance of external factors as cause for youth delinquent behaviors has become among the leading intervention strategies for delinquency in the United States. Multisystemic therapy (MST) is an effective treatment for youth delinquency, because it has proven long-term success, is attempting to incorporate …show more content…
Recent research has shown that MST has a significant long lasting effect on the individuals who participated in treatment (Sawyer & Borduin, 2011). In a 4-year follow up study, a significant reduction for continued delinquent behavior was found for delinquent youth treated with MST (Sawyer & Borduin, 2011). For youth participating in individual therapy, “the odds of recidivism for any felony offense during follow-up were approximately twice as high” as youth involved with MST (Sawyer & Borduin, 2011, p. 647). This significant difference between the long-term outcomes of individual therapy and MST points to MST being the superior treatment strategy. Through various studies, a pattern of substantially lower recidivism rates amongst juvenile offenders treated by MST has emerged (Timmons-Mitchell, Bender, Kishna, & Mitchell, 2006). A study conducted in 1992 showed a 42% decrease in arrests, and following studies from 1995 and1997 subsequently found a 73% reduction in arrest rates and a 26% decrease in recidivism for individuals treated with MST (Timmons-Mitchell et al., 2006). These results are cohesive and confirm the success of groundbreaking strategies utilized in MST treatment …show more content…
This aspect of MST is an important component to the success of the treatment (Tighe et al., 2012). Unlike many other interventions that focus simply on correcting the youth’s current behaviors, MST “uses a social-ecological approach and aims to improve the young person’s behavior and to prevent reoffending by affecting the multiple systems that surround the young person” (Tighe et al., 2012, p.189). This concept differentiates MST from other leading treatments for delinquent behaviors and has been formed as the result of years of compiled research (Walters, 2016). MST is implemented using research-based treatment options and is a community-based, family-driven treatment that views the client as the entire ecology of the youth (Walters, 2016). The practices present in MST that are based on the research of family systems theory and the ecological model have propelled MST to be a leading treatment method (Walters, 2016). The research of these two theories has been central to the development of MST and is likely one of the largest factors in the emerging success of this therapy (Walters,
The study of Juvenile delinquency and the theories pertaining to it are vital for several reasons. In order to more effectively engage with youths and foster positive behavior and schemas, the individuals must first be understood. The study of theory provides a means of understanding adolescents and the factors that lead to or detract from delinquent behavior. In the case of juvenile delinquent, Jordan Brown, theory helps to provide insight into why an eleven-year-old boy murdered his stepmother.
Hinton, W., Sheperis, C., & Sims, P. (2000). Family based approaches to juvenile delinquency. The Family Journal, 11(2), 167-173.
Students that have been labeled “delinquent” need help in beating the odds to become successful adults. As C. Ogletree discusses article, Total Reform for a Broken System, a program needs to be created that includes family involvement and support to create concrete goals and means for students to achieve them, in the aim of becoming successful students throughout each school until graduation. It is a great goal for school institutions to strive in changing students’ behavior for the better, giving them a fair opportunity in education. Not to single out those of low-income homes, race, or learning disabilities. It should be the goal to get to the heart of misbehavior that is introducing so many students into the juvenile justice system. School institutions need to be place of supportive and structured learning from day one. Students enter school as young children, for the first time away from parents, relying on educators to guide them throughout their day. School Institutions should look for a positive approach that emphasizes on individual strengths to promote learning. The restorative circles program is having been introduced into school systems as an alternative to the zero tolerance policies. It creates an involvement of communication between all parties in any issue. Whether it be good or bad, it offers support for students to discuss issues and ideas, opening a line of communication between parents, teachers, and students, which will be key a student’s
Low self esteem, poor-decision making, dysfunctional families, poor communication skills, and associations with negative peer groups are all characteristics of delinquent youth (Journal, 1993). The Ohio Cooperative Extension Service Juvenile Diversion programs were designed to address these characteristics in juveniles. The family unit and peer association are the primary social influence on juvenile behavior and the Ohio Extension program focuses on educating families and placing juvenile offenders in programs with positive peer influences.
...gh juveniles. Intervention at an early age when juveniles are still easily influenced could be beneficial in breaking this cycle of criminal behavior in their family. It would be difficult to target the adults as some may see no wrong in their actions, and also because they have already developed and become accustomed to this type of life style. Attempting to correct a grown adult so they don’t pass on their behaviors to their children would be nonproductive. The best way to go about ceasing criminal behavior would be to intervene with delinquent juveniles through the school system or after school programs. I would not suggest techniques such as “Scared Straight” the TV program that attempts to scare youth by taking them to local prisons. After school programs that encourage delinquents to be apart of a positive atmosphere would likely be the best tactic.
These researchers believe that intensive intervention approaches are needed for youth who display antisocial behaviors because such behaviors put them at even greater risk for abusing substances. They also state that when youth engage in antisocial behaviors, the parents tend to be less accepting of them, show less affection, support and attachment to them. The parents may also have harsher attitudes and discipline with such youth. In addition, according to Santisteban et al (1997), research has shown that parents of youth with antisocial behaviors often use reinforcement inappropriately, use inconsistent parenting styles, and have a lot of family conflict and poor attachment to their children. Family therapy and intervention can be useful in helping parents to become a protective factor to help youth deal with stressors they are facing and to prevent their abuse of substances. However, if families do not receive interventions or help, youth with antisocial behaviors are more likely to be influenced by antisocial peers, drug use, and criminal activity in their neighborhoods. Also, if the parents force their problematic youth out of the home too soon, then they will be more easily influenced by
Handling a young fragile mind can be difficult; but studies have shown therapeutic rehabilitation is key in not causing unrepairable damage. The majority of youth offenders has been exposed to harsh environments and rough upbringings. Years of exposure to violence and neglect can create a sort of brain-washing. It is imperative to focus on important aspects of life in order to transform the mind of the juveniles. An efficient method that involves keeping the juvenile in the community is referred to as multisystemic therapy. “Multisystemic therapy is an intensive therapy program which focuses on numerous aspects the delinquent’s life: family, school, social and other unique factors which may relate to the behavior” (May, Osmond, and Billick 298). When using the multisystemic approach juveniles decrease association with other delinquents, juvenile and adult. The therapeutic method gives an individual approach on focusing deeper on the root issues and helps the juvenile renew their minds and thought process. In the end, adopting multisystemic therapy decreases the likelihood of the youth continuing in a criminal
Using the MST significantly reduces recidivism in juvenile offenders. When recidivism does occur it is much less severe. In one study, juvenile offenders enrolled in MST had a recidivism rate of 22.1% in comparison to an individual therapy group which had a recidivism rate of 71.4%. This study also noted that even when a juvenile offender was only involved in MST temporarily their recidivism rate still dropped to 46.6% in comparison to the control group (Bourdin et al. 1995). MST programs ' net cost was $4,743 for each juvenile offender. However, MST is so effective that for each juvenile offender enrolled in MST, the public saves $131,918 (Osher et al. 2003).(May, Osmond, and Billick 2014)
Hinton, W., Sheperis, C., & Sims, P. (2000). Family based approaches to juvenile delinquency. The Family Journal, 11(2), 167-173.
The goals of juvenile corrections are too deter, rehabilitate and reintegrate, prevent, punish and reattribute, as well as isolate and control youth offenders and offenses. Each different goal comes with its own challenges. The goal of deterrence has its limits; because rules and former sanctions, as well anti-criminal modeling and reinforcement are met with young rebellious minds. Traditional counseling and diversion which are integral aspects of community corrections can sometimes be ineffective, and studies have shown that sometimes a natural self intervention can take place as the youth grows older; resulting in the youth outgrowing delinquency.
Juvenile sex offenders are viewed as being products of a multiple dysfunctional systems, therefore, the intervention of therapy is needed in these multiple systems (Borduin, Henggeler, Blaske, & Stein, 1990). Although multi-systemic interventions vary for each offender, generally this approach is a comprehensive therapy which targets characteristics of the juvenile sex offender, his family, and his peer relationships for intervention (Borduin et al., 1990). Specifically, multi-systemic therapy addresses the juvenile offender's cognitive deficits such as denial, empathy, and distortions, family relations such as cohesion and parental supervision, and dysfunctional peer relationships (Borduin et al., 1990). Borduin et al. (1990) randomly assigned juvenile sex offenders to either a multi-systemic treatment condition or an individual therapy condition. Each treatment used both male and female therapist. Individual therapy focused on personal, family, and academic issues. The theoretical orientation of the individual therapists was a blend of psychodynamic, humanistic, and behavioral approaches. After a long-term follow-up, Borduin et al. (1990), discovered that subjects from the multi-systemic treatment group had significantly group (75%). Borduin et al. then concluded that multi-systemic therapy was more effective than individual therapy in the treatment of juvenile sex
Lundivian, R. J., McFarlane, P. T., & Scarpitti, F. R. (1976). “Delinquency Prevention: A Description And Assessment Of Projects Reported In The Professional Literature.” Crime & Delinquency, 22(3), 297-308.
Greenwood, P., & Zimring, F. (1985). One more chance: The pursuit of promising intervention strategies for chronic juvenile offenders. (Research Report). Pittsburgh: Rand Corporation.
One of the best strategies for combating juvenile delinquency is adopting developmental crime prevention program. Developmental crime prevention programs aim to lower an individual’s potential of becoming criminal. The theory that guides these types of programs is that criminal and deviant activity is the result of early life experiences and learning. These programs put an emphasis on what causes individuals to commit deviant acts in order to identify ways that this activity can be stopped (Lab, 2014). A key piece to developmental crime prevention programs is identifying risk and protective factors for offending.
Juvenile delinquency is one of the major social issues in the United States today. Juvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is when “a violation of the law committed by a juvenile and not punishable by death or life imprisonment” (Merriam-webster.com). Although we have one justice system in America, the juvenile system differs from the adult juvenile system. Most juvenile delinquents range from as low as the age of seven to the age of seventeen. Once the delinquent or anyone turns the age of eighteen, they are considered an adult. Therefore, they are tried as an adult, in the justice system. There are many different reasons why a child would commit crime, such as mental and physical factors, home conditions, neighborhood environment and school conditions. In addition, there are a variety of effects that juvenile justice systems can either bad effects or good effects. Finally there are many different solutions that can reduce juvenile delinquency. As a result, juvenile delinquency is a major issue and the likeliness of it can be reduced. In order to reduce juvenile delinquency there has to be an understanding of the causes and the effects.