Risk-taking and self-regulation: A systematic review of delinquency outcomes in the juvenile justice System

Course overview

This course is based upon material published in the journal Criminal Justice and Behavior by Sage Publications on behalf of the International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology (IACFP). This course, including the continuing education credits are offered free of charge as a benefit to all IACFP members. Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the juvenile justice intervention literature for the statistical consideration given the impact that age, as a marker of neuropsychosocial development, may have on delinquency outcomes. A systematic review of 117 studies published between 1996-2009 was conducted to assess the methods by which curvilinear and moderating effects of age was included in the analysis of delinquency outcomes. Ninety one percent of studies may have underestimated intervention effects through the misspecification of the impact of age on delinquency outcomes. Of the 10 studies that did test for curvilinear and interaction effects, 80 percent had findings consistent with neuropsychosocial theories of age effects on delinquency. To account forage effects on delinquency, the regular use of multiple age groups in analysis may increase both the precision with which intervention effects are measured and the identification of specific age groups with whom individual interventions are most effective. Forensic and clinical psychologists can benefit from this course. In addition, this course is appropriate for social workers and professional counselors, especially those interested in forensic psychology or those who work within the criminal justice system. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to enhance their knowledge of juvenile delinquency outcomes in the research literature. Authors: Evans-Chase et al. Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding risk-taking and self-regulation in juvenile justice interventions. Specifically, a professional will: · Distinguish the impact age may have on delinquency outcomes · Identify outcome studies in juvenile delinquency that adequately account for the effects of age · Describe how the use of multiple age groups in analysis may provide more accurate information about intervention effectiveness.