Once these risk factors are lessened, the problem behavior is much less likely to occur. Both of these programs have shown incredible results by targeting specific risk factors that lead to delinquent behavior. Two programs that have both of these features – early intervention and comprehensiveness - are home visitation programs and Head Start. Programs that are more holistic prevent future crime better because they deal with various aspects of a child’s life, not just a single one. One aspect of exceptionally successful prevention programs is their comprehensive nature. And there are even some prevention programs that are more successful than others. Prevention programs positively impact the general public because they stop this crime from happening in the first place. By getting involved in children’s lives early, later crime can be effectively reduced (Zagar, Busch, and Hughes 282). More effective programs are ones that intervene before the onset of delinquent behavior and prevent that behavior – prevention programs. Those that get involved with the delinquent after the occurrence of deviant behavior tend to be less succesful, since by that point antisocial habits are well developed. In this way, the most successful programs can continue to be implemented and improved, while those that do not work are discontinued.Ī number of different types of programs currently exist. It is essential to determine the efficacy of different programs, and to see what works and what does not. These programs are a waste of our resources. Some are greatly successful, while many others have minimal or no impact.
There have been numerous programs that have attempted to lower this rate. While delinquency rates have been decreasing, rates are still too high. It affects the victims of crime, the perpetrators, and the bystanders. It affects parents, neighbors, teachers, and families. Every single person living in the United States today is affected by juvenile crime.