TREATMENT OF THE JUVENILE OFFENDER CONCLUSIONS FROM THEORY AND RESEARCH

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TREATMENT OF THE JUVENILE OFFENDERCONCLUSIONS
FROM THEORY AND RESEARCH

• DR. ROBERT D. HOGE
• DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
• CARLETON UNIVERSITY
• OTTAWA, ONTARIO K1S 5B6
• 613-520-5773
  robert_hoge_at_carleton.ca

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SOME CAUTIONS

• NOVEL CONCEPTS
• NARROW PERSPECTIVE
• FOCUS ON NEEDS AS WELL AS RISK
• LACK OF RESOURCES

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SERVICE GOALS OF JUDICIAL CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS

• COMMUNITY PROTECTION
• ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE VICTIM
• COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT
• BALANCE

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SOME BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

• SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES ARE BEING MADE IN OUR
  UNDERSTANDING OF YOUTH CRIME
• THERE IS AN EMERGING CONSENSUS ON THE CORRELATES
  AND CAUSES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN YOUNG PEOPLE
• THERE IS AN EMERGING CONSENSUS ON THE ATTRIBUTES
  OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS

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CONCLUSIONS FROM THE TREATMENT LITERATURE

• EARLY INTERVENTIONS WITH HIGH RISK CHILDREN
  AND FAMILIES WORK

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CONCLUSIONS FROM THE TREATMENT LITERATURECONTINU
ED

• PUNITIVE SANCTIONS DO NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
  EFFECT ON REOFFENDING

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CONCLUSIONS FROM THE TREATMENT LITERATURECONTINU
ED

• APPROPRIATE TREATMENT SERVICES, DELIVERED WITH
  INTEGRITY, CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CRIMINAL
  ACTIVITY

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CONCLUSIONS FROM THE TREATMENT LITERATURECONTINU
ED

• APPROPRIATE TREATMENT SERVICES, DELIVERED WITH
  INTEGRITY, CAN BE COST EFFECTIVE, PARTICULARLY IN
  COMPARISON WITH PUNITIVE SANCTIONS

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KEY CONCEPTS FROM THE RISK/NEED MODEL

• CRIMINOGENIC RISK
• CRIMINOGENIC NEED
• RESPONSIVITY

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CRIMINOGENIC RISK FACTORS

• FACTORS WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL OR HIS/HER
  ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATED WITH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

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MAJOR RISK FACTORS

• HISTORY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR/CONDUCT DISORDER
• ATTITUDES, VALUES, BELIEFS SUPPORTIVE OF CRIME
• DYSFUNCTIONAL PARENTING
• ANTISOCIAL PEER ASSOCIATIONS
• DYSFUNCTIONAL PERSONALITY/ BEHAVIOUR TRAITS
• POOR EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL SKILLS
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE
• POOR USE OF LEISURE TIME

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OTHER RISK FACTORS

• PROBLEMS IN THE FAMILY OF ORIGIN CRIMINALITY,
  MENTAL DISORDER, ABUSE
• INADEQUATE ACCOMMODATIONS
• ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE
• DYSFUNCTIONAL NEIGHGBOURHOOD ENVIRONMENT

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CRIMINOGENIC NEED FACTORS

• RISK FACTORS THAT CAN BE CHANGED AND, IF CHANGED,
  REDUCE THE CHANCES OF FUTURE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

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MAJOR NEED FACTORS

• ATTITUDES, VALUES, AND BELIEFS SUPPORTIVE OF
  CRIME
• DYSFUNCTIONAL PARENTING
• ANTISOCIAL PEER ASSOCIATIONS
• DYSFUNCTIONAL PERSONALITY BEHAVIOUR TRAITS
• POOR ACADEMIC SKILLS PERFORMANCE
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE
• POOR USE OF LEISURE TIME

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RESPONSIVITY FACTORS

• FACTORS WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL OR HIS OR HER
  SITUATION THAT, WHILE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO
  CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT
  IN CASE PLANNING. INCLUDES STRENGTH FACTORS

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RESEARCH AND CLINICALLY-BASED PRINCIPLES OF BEST
PRACTICE

• BASED ON VALID ASSESSMENTS OF RISK, NEED, AND
  RESPONSIVITY
• LEVEL OF SERVICE DETERMINED BY RISK LEVEL OF THE
  CLIENT
• TREATMENTS TARGET SPECIFIC NEEDS AND TAKE ACCOUNT
  OF RESPONSIVITY FACTORS

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RESEARCH AND CLINICALLY-BASED PRINCIPLES OF BEST
PRACTICE(CONTINUED)

• TREATMENTS ARE DELIVERED IN THE COMMUNITY SETTING
  WHERE FEASIBLE
• WHERE INSTITUTIONALIZION IS NECESSARY, NEEDED
  SERVICES ARE PROVIDED

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RESEARCH AND CLINICALLY-BASED PRINCIPLES OF BEST
PRACTICE(CONTINUED)

• TREATMENTS ARE STRUCTURED AND FOCUS ON CONCRETE
  BEHAVIOURAL GOALS
• TREATMENTS ARE MULTIMODAL - ADDRESS ALL AREAS OF
  NEED

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RESEARCH AND CLINICALLY-BASED PRINCIPLES OF BEST
PRACTICE(CONTINUED)

• TREATMENT GOALS ARE REALISTIC AND ATTAINABLE
• INDIVIDUALS DELIVERING TREATMENT ARE SELECTED
  WITH CARE AND PROVIDED MEANINGFUL SUPPORT

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RESEARCH AND CLINICALLY-BASED PRINCIPLES OF BEST
PRACTICE(CONTINUED)

• AGENCY HAS CLEAR GUIDELINES REGARDING TREATMENT
  OF CLIENTS
• STAFF TAKE CARE TO INSURE THAT THEY REPRESENT
  PROSOCIAL MODELS

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RESEARCH AND CLINICALLY-BASED PRINCIPLES OF BEST
PRACTICE(CONTINUED)

• AFTERCARE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOLLOWING
  INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT
• PROGRAM DELIVERY IMPACT IS CAREFULLY MONITORED

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CONCLUDING STATEMENT

• OUR IMMEDIATE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS ISSUES
  PRESENTED BY THE JUVENILE OFFENDER. OUR ULTIMATE
  GOAL, THOUGH, SHOULD BE TO CREATE CONDITIONS FOR
  YOUTH TO DEVELOP INTO HEALTHY, MATURE, AND
  PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. THE POTENTIAL
  PROFITS FROM THIS COMMITMENT ARE IMMENSE.