Children who engage in aggressive behaviors are at heightened risk of being involved in the justice system, committing serious offenses, and becoming chronic offenders. The Stop Now And Plan (SNAP) program was designed as an early intervention to address several mechanisms underlying the development of conduct problems, including emotion…

A wellness paradigm is presented and explored as a promising approach to preventing as well as treating delinquent behaviors among adolescent females. This approach is demonstrated using a case example from an inpatient adolescent treatment program. (Contains 55 references.) (GCP)

Examines and profiles the smoking patterns of a small sample of juvenile offenders in Texas. In contrast to anecdotal reports, the sample did not differ clinically from the general population of adolescent tobacco users. Concludes that delinquent youth may be responsive to cognitive behavioral smoking cessation programs tat also address the…

Reviews theoretical and programmatic issues in the development of a social skills training program for court-adjudicated youths. Discusses the relationship between a youth's social competence and his or her likelihood of engaging in inappropriate or illegal activity. (Author/AOS)

This paper evaluates the experimental evidence regarding the relationship between parental supervision and offspring delinquency with the view of suggesting that greater emphasis be placed on the role of parental supervision as a means of reducing delinquent behavior in potentially delinquent families; high supervision is associated with low…

This article provides a brief review of a number of key developments within the area of sexual offending over the past two decades. In addition, several directions for future research are discussed. The review presents information concerning several well-validated risk assessment instruments that are available. As well, some of the accumulating…

This paper summarizes a diverse body of literature on Achievement Place, a community-based program for juveniles in group home settings. The program's Teaching-Family treatment model is described in detail as a base for presenting findings about its ability to change behaviors. Preliminary data from follow-up studies of attempts to extend the…

This article reviews critically the published behavioral approaches for the reduction of nonconfrontive stealing behavior in school-aged children. Treatment approaches discussed in this paper include aversive and positive contingency management, parent-training, self-control, as well as other interventions aimed at prevention of stealing in…

Serious delinquent behavior may be part of a disabling and durable condition that consists of multiple antisocial and dysfunctional behaviors, often runs in families, and eludes effective short-term treatment. The socializing influence of long-term supportive family treatment is discussed as a therapeutic alternative. (Author/JW)

This article describes how effective systems of positive behavioral support can be used in alternative educational settings as a means of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention for at-risk and adjudicated youth. Special concerns and specific strategies for this population are discussed across the range of placement alternatives. (Contains…

The lack of rigorous evaluations and variations in operation of adolescent diversion programs has led to a state of confusion concerning the effects of diversion. In a program at Michigan State University, youths referred to the project from the juvenile court are randomly assigned to undergraduates who are trained and supervised by project…

In response to increasing demands that Canadian school boards provide behavior adaptation programs to counter the effects of disruptive home environments, school violence, and victimization, this paper explores definitions and diagnostic criteria for the following behavior disorders: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant…

Five articles address current teaching and programming practices in the education and treatment of behaviorally disordered youth. In "Down the Up Staircase: The Teacher as Therapist," P. Nichols explores the premise that teachers should not limit their potential as child helpers by excluding counseling and psychotherapeutic…

A significant challenge facing the juvenile justice system is the task of transitioning and reintegrating juveniles from youth corrections facilities back into the community. This challenge, in part, is related to determining whether the referred community programs are effective. This article summarizes the literature on the effectiveness of…

The problem is well known to every parent of a teenager, every high school teacher, every clinical practitioner, and every social policy maker: vulnerable adolescents risk becoming more deviant through association with deviant peers and peer groups. Deviant peer influences are among the most potent factors in the development of antisocial…