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There is increasing interest in the use of strength-based approaches, such as the Good Lives Model (GLM), in the field of offender rehabilitation to complement primarily risk management models. To date, theoretical work has focused on the application of the GLM to adult offenders, and primarily sexual offenders at that. This paper explores the theoretical application of the Good Lives Model (GLM) to the rehabilitation of youth offenders. Practitioners often struggle to engage young people in treatment as working towards the goal of avoiding further offending does not directly speak to their core concerns and, as such, is not very motivating. The GLM is a rehabilitation framework that focuses on approach goals, which encourages individuals to identify and formulate ways of achieving personally meaningful goals in prosocial ways. It is argued that as a rehabilitation framework the GLM has the flexibility and breadth to accommodate the variety of risk factors and complex needs youth offenders present with, and also provides a natural fit with a dynamic systems (e.g., family and educational systems) framework, and evidence based interventions in the youth offender field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female adolescents constitute a very vulnerable and challenging, yet understudied, minority within the criminal justice system. Up to now, problem-oriented risk management approaches, such as the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model, are still the most widely used rehabilitation frameworks. More recently, strength-based rehabilitation frameworks, such as the Good Lives Model (GLM), have received increased attention in guiding treatment of detained female adolescents. In the current paper, we explore the relevance and applicability of the GLM in the particular population of detained female adolescents, based on a critical reflection on the theoretical, empirical and clinical evidence available in the scientific literature. First, we argue that the GLM can help to overcome the RNR model's ethical, etiological and clinical limitations, thereby improving rehabilitation theory and effective practice for detained female adolescents. Second, we believe this model, given its holistic and person-centred approach, can be easily extended to this population, however not without taking into account particular developmental and gender issues. Third, we believe the GLM, as a rehabilitation framework, can easily “wrap around” existing evidence-based treatment programs for detained female adolescents, which, overall, are recommended to include a multidimensional, systemic and gender-responsive component. In addition, we think that the different phases of GLM-informed rehabilitation can be easily applied to this particular population. Finally, the application of the GLM among detained female adolescents entails some important research-related, practice-related and normative challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialized treatment programs exist for juvenile sex offenders (JSOs) on the basis that JSOs are a homogeneous group. However, several studies have shown support for the heterogeneity of JSOs on the observed differences in victim age preferences within this group; those that offend against children (child molesters), and those that offend against peers or adults (peer abusers). To better meet the individual needs of treatment and rehabilitation, there must be an understanding of the developmental risk factors associated with each sub-type of JSOs. This paper reviewed 13 published studies on the differences in developmental risk factors between juvenile child molesters and peer abusers. The review found that child abusers were more likely to be submissive, have lower self-esteem and to show internalizing behaviour problems, whereas peer abusers were more aggressive, antisocial and were more likely to show externalizing behaviour problems. Although inconsistencies in results were observed across some studies, the results from this review suggest the need to separate JSO treatment approaches depending on victim age preference. Child molesters may benefit more from individual-based treatment programs (i.e. cognitive behavioural therapy) whereas peer abusers may benefit from a community-based approach to treatment such as multi-systematic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing offender readiness for treatment has major implications in terms of determining program referrals, dropout rates and, hence, program efficiency and efficacy. To be treatment ready means that the offender is motivated, finds programming relevant and meaningful, and has the capacity to successfully engage in and complete treatment. The objective of this paper is to systematically review the current methods of defining and measuring the construct of offender treatment readiness. A review of 11 measures assessing treatment readiness is described. Commonalities and differences between the measures are discussed, as well as their psychometric properties and different theoretical models. This paper concludes that there is a lack of consensus regarding the construct of treatment readiness and highlights the need for its standardized assessment. While there are various instruments developed to examine treatment readiness, there have been few efforts in validating the variables and elements encompassed by this construct. The need for a solid theoretical model is identified. Implications regarding best practices are described, as well as future directions on how to develop a psychometrically sound measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thornberry, Krohn, Lizotte, and Chard-Wierschem's (1993) introduced three models to account for why gangs are associated with high levels of delinquency. Existing research using Thornberry et al.'s (1993) models to explain the gang-delinquency association has been inconclusive. This paper seeks to address this gap in research by incorporating Moffitt's (1993) developmental taxonomy of delinquency within Thornberry et al.'s (1993) explanatory models. A few proposals are put forth in this paper: (1) support for Thornberry et al.'s (1993) models depends on developmental stage of the individual, (2) the selection model explains delinquency of life-course-persistent gang members, while social facilitation model explains delinquency of adolescence-limited gang members, and (3) support for the enhancement model is an artifact of assuming a homogenous gang sample. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper builds on our previous systematic review of prospective longitudinal studies and examines the early risk factors associated with life-course persistent offending (LCP), adolescence-limited (AL) and late-onset (LO) offending. Out of the 55 prospective longitudinal studies which theoretically could possess the relevant information, only four provided information about risk factors associated with the different offending types. An additional three provided data so that relevant analyses could be conducted. The results suggested that there was little evidence that specific early risk factors were associated with specific offending types. There was also limited evidence that specific risk factors predicted specific offending types when criminal career duration was included in the definitions of LCP, AL, and LO offending. However, LCP offenders tended to have a greater number of risk factors, and the magnitude of these was somewhat greater than for AL offenders, who in turn tended to have more risk factors (and of a greater magnitude) than LO offenders. LCP and AL offenders may differ more in degree (in the number and magnitude of risk factors) than in kind (in the specific risk factors that are predictive). Importantly, as the potential criminal career duration was increased in defining the offending types, those with longer careers tended to have more risk factors, but, LCP and AL offenders were not predicted by different risk factors. Much more research is needed on risk factors for offending types defined according to criminal career durations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public narrative of juvenile offenders has oscillated between images of the misguided and the superpredator. Consequently, public policy discussions have followed a similar path — swinging between offering treatment and implementing punishment. This paper discusses the impact of neoliberalism, high profile events, and recent legislative responses to posit that the discussion changes dyad of punishment and rehabilitation to a method to work with youth. Restorative justice used in Australia provides a starting point in discussing the types of programs necessary to change the conversation and improve the lives of juveniles in America. Policy implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory systematic review assessed the quality of primary studies on young people who kill and synthesised the findings regarding the characteristics of these offenders. An electronic search yielded 12,717 hits of papers published between 1989 and 2012. Of these, 8395 duplicates, 3787 irrelevant hits, and 527 publications not meeting the inclusion criteria of the review were excluded (15 publications were added after searching the grey literature), leaving 23 good quality studies. From these, a further seven were removed due to their small sample size (i.e., n < 30), leaving a total of 16 studies reviewed in detail. A search update was carried out on 2 February 2014 and no further studies meeting the inclusion criteria were found. The results indicate that juvenile homicide offenders are a heterogeneous group and the risk factors for juvenile homicide are cumulative and evolve through life. The findings are mixed, but ten risk factors are identified which appear to be consistent for offenders across the studies reviewed. The limitations of the current review are highlighted and recommendations for future research are outlined, with particular consideration given to improving the quality of the literature in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual offenses are serious crimes and it is believed that adolescents perpetrate 20% of all sexual assaults and 50% of all child sexual abuse (Barbaree & Marshall, 2006). To better understand the etiology of juvenile sexual offending, researchers have explored differences between those who offend children versus those who offend peers/adults. This paper critically reviewed 21 studies that compared juvenile sex offenders who abused children with those who abused peers/adults on a variety of variables including victim, offense, and offender characteristics; psychosocial variables; and predictors and rates of recidivism. Strengths and weaknesses of these studies as well as future directions for the literature are discussed. Common methodological limitations of victim-age based comparisons of juvenile sex offenders included inconsistent definitions, low-powered studies, lack of standardized measures, and recidivism data based solely on conviction rates. Overall, many inconsistent findings limit our ability to give overarching conclusions; however, the research does suggests that not only is it important to examine child and peer/adult offenders, but mixed offenders (i.e., offender with both child and peer victims) as a distinct group need to be included in comparisons as well. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A considerable amount of meta-analytic research supports the effectiveness of cognitive–behavioral psychoeducational programs in reducing recidivism rates, in youths and adults with antisocial behavior. These same studies suggest that programs including a cognitive component are as twice as more effective in reducing recidivism rates. This paper reviews outcome studies sustaining the use of structured interventions in forensic settings. It introduces a new program, Growing Pro-Social (GPS), currently in use in several Portuguese youth rehabilitation centers and prisons. GPS is a multimodal structured group program designed for the rehabilitation of individuals with antisocial behavior. It includes 40 weekly sessions, organized into 5 sequential modules. Based on a cognitive–interpersonal theoretical framework, GPS focuses on cognitive, emotional, and behavioral change, assuming as an ultimate goal the modification of dysfunctional core beliefs underlying antisocial behavior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In 1995 Terrie Moffitt published a fully articulated version of a 1993 paper that proposed a dual developmental taxonomy of antisocial behavior. The paper triggered a cascade of research on types of criminal offending, thereby making it one of the most researched and most influential of all developmental theories of antisocial behavior. The silver anniversary of the 1995 publication seems a fitting time to review the status of the life-course-persistent (LCP) group who Moffitt suggested would enable researchers to learn more about the etiology of severe, persistent antisocial behavior from studying this group than from studying the group that had its onset of antisocial behavior in adolescence. The LCP group was hypothesized to consist of a relatively few males whose early-onset of severe antisocial behavior would persist into adulthood and had its origins in neurodevelopmental deficits interacting with various environmental risk factors. This review assessed the evidence supporting these hypotheses and reviewed the findings for early identification of the LCP group—a topic that was only modestly addressed in 1995. Lastly, the paper discussed what is one of most significant impacts of the taxonomy, providing impetus to the early-years crime prevention movement. • Twenty-five years of research has provided robust support for a male life-course-persistent antisocial trajectory (LPC). • Males on this trajectory account for the majority of crime, constituting a public health crisis. • Etiology of LPC consists of inherited and acquired neurodevelopmental problems interacting with environmental risk factors. • Males at high-risk for this trajectory can be reliably identified in early childhood. • Preventative interventions for LCP have yet to have a substantial impact on reducing criminal offending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The search for effective treatment programs for violent adolescent offenders has produced more questions than answers. Only a handful of treatment programs have proven efficacious with adolescent offenders. This paper reviews the similarities and common features of four programs that have proven effective at reducing recidivism in adolescent offenders. The programs not only differ in many ways, but they also share some striking similarities. All take a comprehensive approach; utilizing a multidimensional treatment system to work with the youth and their family. All share a similar philosophy, theoretical framework, and structural approach to treatment. These similarities provide a template to facilitate progress in future programming, and research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reviews the literature addressing four process issues associated with the effectiveness of treatment for offenders: (1) Therapist characteristics; (2) Clients'' perceptions of the therapist; (3) The therapeutic alliance; and (4) The group climate of treatment. The general clinical literature is briefly summarized and then these issues are examined in adult offenders and in juvenile offenders. Although there is a limited set of research articles on process issues in offender treatment it is possible to make some reasonably sound conclusions. Each of the four process features we appraised facilitates the attainment of treatment goals and they account for a greater proportion of the variance in the sought-after changes with treatment of offenders than do the procedures used to achieve these changes. This proportion of variance accounted for is significantly greater than is true in the treatment of nonoffending clients. Suggestions are offered for future research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]