1. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.1 Chapter 12 Assessment and Treatment of Young Offenders 12-1

2. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.2 Learning Objectives Describe the history of young offender legislation Identify psychiatric diagnoses and trajectories Differentiate theories of antisocial behaviour List risk and protective factors Distinguish primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions 12-2

3. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.3 Historical Overview Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA), 1908 –Separate court system for youth –Minimum age of 7 to be charged with criminal offence –Sentencing discretion and options increased –Parents encouraged to be part of process 12-3

4. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.4 Young Offenders Act (YOA) Replaced JDA in 1984 –Youth held accountable for their action not to the full extent as adults –Public has right to be protected –Young offenders have legal rights and freedoms –Minimum age of 12 to be charged with criminal offence 12-4

5. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.5 Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) Replaced YOA in 2003 –To prevent youth crime –Provide meaningful consequences and encourage responsibility of behaviour –Improve rehabilitation and reintegration of youth into the community 12-5

6. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.6 YCJA: Key Changes Less serious and less violent offences should be kept out of the formal court process Extrajudicial measures are increased Greater focus on prevention/reintegration Transfers to adult court removed; impose adult sentence Interests and needs of victims recognized 12-6

7. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.7 Naming Youth Name of youth cannot be reported to public but only under special circumstances –Defendants between 14 and 17 years and are convicted of serious, violent offences –Youth is considered dangerous –Youth has not been apprehended yet 12-7

8. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.8 Youth Crime Rates Total number of crimes by youth decreasing Probation is the most frequent sentence Youth in custody during 2008-09 down 8% Down 42% from 2003-04 when YCJA introduced 12-8

9. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.9 Assessing Under 12s Levels of consent Internalizing problems (e.g., depression) Externalizing problems (e.g., delinquency) Childhood psychiatric diagnoses: –Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) –Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) –Conduct Disorder (CD) 12-9

10. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.10 Assessing the Adolescent Court-ordered assessment – no consent/assent required Determine level of risk for reoffending Risk factors may vary for youth vs. adults Use developmentally appropriate measures 12-10

11. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.11 Rates of Behaviour Disorders 5% to 15% of children display severe behavioural problems (possibly higher) Behavioural disorders co-occur 20% to 50% of children with ADHD also have symptoms consistent with CD or ODD 12-11

12. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.12 Trajectories of Young Offenders Child-onset, life-course persistent –Early onset related to more serious and persistent antisocial behaviour –3% to 5% of general population Adolescent-onset, adolescent limited –About 70% of general population –Common for youth to desist antisocial behaviour 12-12

13. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.13 Theories Biological theories Cognitive theories Social theories 12-13

14. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.14 Biological Theories Frontal lobe functioning –Responsible for planning and inhibiting behaviour Physiological –Slower heart rates for youth who engage in antisocial behaviour Genetic studies/biological link –Antisocial father, more likely to engage 12-14

15. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.15 Cognitive Theories Cognitive deficits and distortions Limited problem-solving skills Reactive aggression: Emotionally aggressive response to perceived threat Proactive aggression: Directed at achieving a goal 12-15

16. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.16 Social Theories Social learing theory: Learning from watching others in the social environment and reinforcement contingencies More likely to imitate behaviour that receives positive reinforcement than behaviour that receives negative reinforcement Intergenerational aggression 12-16

17. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.17 Risk Factors Individual and social factors that place children at increased risk for developmental psychopathology 12-17

18. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.18 Individual Risk Factors Genetic/biological factors –Parent’s own history of ADHD –Pregnant woman’s use of drugs and alcohol –Child’s diet and exposure to lead –Child’s temperament –Child’s impulsiveness 12-18

19. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.19 Familial Risk Factors Parenting –Neglect and insecure attachment Divorce and familial conflict Inconsistent and overly strict parents Parental heavy drinking Consequences of child abuse Low socioeconomic status, large family size, parental mental health problems 12-19

20. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.20 School and Social Risk Factors Reading and lower intelligence Aggressive peers Early CD symptoms Social disapproval and rejection 12-20

21. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.21 Protective Factors Reduces negative outcome by changing the risk level Change the negative chain reaction following exposure to risk Develops and maintains self-esteem and self-efficacy Provide opportunities to children that they would not otherwise have 12-21

22. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.22 Individual Protective Factors Resiliant temperaments –Exceptional social skills –Child competencies –Confident perceptions, values, attitudes and beliefs within the child Social support influenced by personality 12-22

23. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.23 Familial Protective Factors Positive aspects of the child’s parents/guardians and home environment –Positive and supportive parental relationship 12-23

24. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.24 Social/External Protective Factors Peer groups –Associating with prosocial children 12-24

25. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.25 Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment Primary intervention strategies Secondary intervention strategies Tertiary Intervention strategies 12-25

26. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.26 Primary Intervention Strategies Strategies that are implemented prior to any violence occurring, with the goal of decreasing the likelihood that violence will occur later on –Family oriented strategies –School oriented strategies –Community-wide strategies 12-26

27. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.27 Family-Oriented Strategies Target the family –Parent-focused interventions: Interventions directed at assisting parents to recognize warning signs for later youth violence –Family-supportive intervention: Intervention that connect at-risk families to various support services 12-27

28. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.28 School-Oriented Strategies Preschool programs, social skills training for children, and broad-based social interventions designed to alter the school environment 12-28

29. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.29 Community-Wide Strategies Structured community activities for children and increasing a community’s cohesion Few community-based programs exist for children younger than 12 who are at risk for future young offending 12-29

30. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.30 Secondary Intervention Strategies Strategies that attempt to reduce the frequency of violence Provide social and clinical services so that young offenders do not go on to commit serious violence Many of the same approaches used in primary intervention strategies are used here, the difference is the target rather than the content 12-30

31. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.31 Secondary Strategies Diversion programs Alternative and vocational education Family therapy Skills training Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an example that has undergone considerable evaluation 12-31

32. Copyright © 2012 Pearson Canada Inc.32 Tertiary Intervention Strategies Strategies that attempt to prevent violence from reoccurring More “treatment” than prevention Directed at chronic and serious young offenders In-patient treatment (e.g., institutional) Community-based treatment 12-32