Delinquency prevention in the 1980s

Abstract

Current American delinquency prevention strategies adopted by the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention emphasize trying to change organizations (especially schools) rather than individuals. Similarly, the report by Rutter and Giller to the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Security advocates changes in the school, the area, the community or the physical environment. It is argued here that it is just as plausible to locate the causes of delinquency in the individual as in the environment, and that there is good reason to expect delinquency prevention efforts targeted on individuals to be successful. Pre-school early intervention programmes designed to increase intellectual ability are especially desirable.