Introduction
Juvenile delinquency is a phenomenon that has for long been difficult for behavioral specialists to handle. Some specialists have argued that it is caused by child abuse while others argue that child abuse is not reason enough to be linked with juvenile delinquency. Some sociologists have indicated that a combination of socio-economic factors and peer influences are factors which lead to juvenile delinquency. This section will look at some of the intervention mechanisms that may be used to address juvenile delinquency.
Since Juvenile delinquency affects society adversely, it is imperative to put intervention plans in place. One of the most important intervention plans is providing assistance to children while still young or early enough before they descend into major problems. Many countries have started state programs aimed at early intervention. In addition, community initiatives have been receiving federal funding hence making it possible for independent groups to handle the situations from new perspectives. I will now discuss some of the most effective intervention plans that can address juvenile delinquency (UN 2003).
Intervention Plans
Education
Model programs which provide information to parents and children are an important intervention plan. Some of the programs give parents quality information on the most effective ways of bringing up healthy children. For instance, the programs teach children the harmful effects of engaging in gangs, sex, weapons, and drugs while others aim at enlightening the youths on their self-worth and the worth of others. Such programs provide the youths with useful information that they should think of the consequences of their actions. This is important because children are exposed to different lifestyles that may lead them into unwarranted conduct such as turning to crime. Most of the educational programs are aimed at creating new opportunities for children and giving them a chance of leading good lives in the future.
Functional Family Therapy
Functional family therapy is very important in assisting adolescents who have behavioral problems to change their behaviors. In this program, a family has its own therapist who works with them and assists individual family members to initiate positive changes in their families. In the first stage of the program, the therapist breaks down some of the misconceptions that interaction and communication strategies cannot be changed in the family. In the second stage, the family members are given strategies for dealing with the challenges they encounter daily. They are given advice on ways of changing their behaviors and new ways of approaching situations. During the third stage, members of the concerned families are taught the importance of using relational skills in other settings like schools and working stations. Functional family therapy reduces the levels of recidivism and juvenile delinquency at a little cost since FFT sessions are cheaper than detaining youths when they commit crimes. Another advantage is that the siblings are not likely to commit crimes because of the assistance given to their families (Press 2001).
Recreation
Another intervention plan is the use of recreational facilities for youths during the unsupervised hours they spent after school. Research has shown that many youths engage themselves in criminal activities between two and eight p.m. Given that this is the time frame when crime rate is high among youths, recreation programs give youths the opportunity of socializing with both adults and children. Such programs are positive and prevent juvenile delinquency in youths because of being left unsupervised. Youth programs are therefore important since they integrate youths who have different personalities and capabilities through activities such as dance and music.
Local Community Intervention
Local communities also play an important role in dealing with juvenile delinquency. In some communities where juvenile delinquency is high, special groups and individuals have been trained and acquired skills needed to control youths from engaging in crime. The idea of young people working with adults in improving the conditions of their families has gained popularity in the recent years. Young people are asked to give sound and useful ideas concerning how the community can be improved. By involving them in the activities of the community, young people are deterred from engaging in crime (Press 2001).
Family Intervention
The family which is the primary institution charged with socialization plays an important role in preventing and addressing juvenile delinquency. Most of the prevention mechanisms focus on families where the youths are most vulnerable. For instance, in the United States, parent management is more effective than confining children and youths in control groups. It has been observed that a big percentage of the children refrained from criminal activities through continued family intervention.
Conclusion
Juvenile delinquency is a major problem that has been affecting many societies. Different groups of people have advanced different theories with regard to what causes juvenile delinquency. With the knowledge of different causes of juvenile delinquency, it is important to come up with intervention plans. Some of the effective intervention plans that I have discussed include home therapy programs, community interventions, educational programs for young people and recreational activities to ensure that they spent their time in appropriate ways. All these intervention plans are important towards reducing juvenile delinquency.
Works Cited
National Academic Press. Preventing Juvenile Delinquency. 2001.
UN. Juvenile Delinquency. 2003. Web.