Lecture Notes: Risk Factors for Delinquency

Introduction

• Presenter: Michael Shader, Ph.D., Social Science Program Specialist at OJJDP
• Focus on understanding causes of juvenile delinquency using theoretical models.
• No single path to delinquency; presence of multiple risk factors increases the likelihood of offending.
• Interaction and multiplicative effects of risk factors, protective factors can offset risks.

Adoption of Public Health Approach

• Public health model used to understand delinquency causes and prevention.
• Similar to medical community's approach to preventing diseases (e.g., cancer, heart disease).
• Emphasizes risk assessment for predicting likelihood of delinquency and corresponding interventions.

Defining Risk Factors

• Risk factors increase the probability of a disorder (Mrazek & Haggerty, 1994).
• No single risk factor is usually associated with a disorder.
• Exposure to multiple risk factors has a cumulative effect.

Public Health Approach to Decision Making

• Four Steps:
  1. Public health surveillance
  2. Risk group identification
  3. Risk factor exploration
  4. Program implementation and evaluation
• Criminal justice field uses these steps to develop preventive measures against delinquency.

Protective Factors

• Protective factors act as buffers against delinquency onset.
• Processes include reducing risk, negative chain reactions, establishing self-esteem, and opening up opportunities.
• Disagreement on what constitutes protective factors, viewed either as absence of risks or distinct characteristics.

Importance of Studying Risk Factors

• Risk factors linked to increased likelihood of delinquency.
• Multiplicative effects: multiple risk factors exponentially increase delinquency risk.
• Tailoring prevention programs to specific developmental stages of youth.

Risk and Protective Factors by Domain

• Risk Factor Domains:
  • Individual: Substance use, aggression, hyperactivity, low IQ
  • Family: Low socioeconomic status, poor parent-child relationships, harsh discipline
  • School: Poor academic performance, school policies on discipline
  • Peer Group: Antisocial peers, gang membership
  • Community: Neighborhood crime and disorganization
• Protective factors include high IQ, positive social orientation, and parental support.

Description of Risk Factors

• Individual Factors: Prenatal complications, behavioral issues, academic performance
• Social Factors: Family structure, peer influences
• Community Factors: School policies, neighborhood environment

Conclusion

• Risk factor paradigm provides insight into juvenile delinquency.
• Importance of ongoing research to understand risk and protective factor interactions.
• Challenges in defining, identifying, and evaluating risk and protective factors in prevention programs.