Violent crimes carry some of the harshest penalties in the justice system and have very high repeat rates for convicts. The juvenile justice system attempts to minimize the number of violent offenders in prisons and in juvenile facilities by rehabilitating violent juvenile delinquents. Participants may be required to participate in such a treatment program as a condition of release, or may participate while in a delinquent facility. Many of these programs may also be used as a preventive measure for a child or teen who may be getting in trouble.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a category of psychological treatment designed to transform maladaptive cognitions and behaviors. This type of therapy format is used very frequently in the rehabilitation of violent juvenile offenders, and has been shown to be among the most successful of treatment types. Listed below are four types of treatment for violent juvenile delinquents, all based on cognitive behavioral therapy techniques.
Anger Management
Anger management training teaches participants to control anger with relaxation and self-coaching in a group format. This type of training can be successful in reducing recidivism in violent juvenile offenders, but there are conditions under which treatment is more likely to be effective. Small group size, specificity of targeted behavior, specificity of offense, and longer training length are all characteristics of more successful anger management training programs.
Cognitive Skills Programming
Cognitive skills programs teach participants to think about situations in a more positive way as well as teach problem-solving skills, which are often lacking in violent teens. This type of program teaches teens to avoid acting upon a first impulse when faced with a difficult situation. Instead, careful consideration of alternatives and consequences is encouraged before action is taken. This program does have at least moderate effects in reducing recidivism in violent youth participants, estimated at 36 percent by Correctional Services Canada.
Violence Prevention Unit Program
The Violence Prevention Unit program (VPU) is among the more intense and lengthy of treatments for violent juvenile delinquents. Treatment is provided in a group format, and usually lasts about 28 weeks. In this program, participants are coached through eight learning units, where the focus is placed on empathy and morals, as well as changing cognitions and learning problem-solving skills. This type of treatment has been shown to be very helpful in reducing relapse in violent delinquents who finished the program, and in extending time before re-conviction in those who did not complete the full program.
Functional Family Therapy
Functional family therapy is often used to treat violent juvenile offenders who may have an abusive or dysfunctional family history. In this type of therapy, the therapist will work with the family of the offender to determine ways to improve individual and family functioning. The goals of therapy are to improve communication between family members, resolve conflicts, and restore healthy self-image to the offender and her family. Functional family therapy has, in general, been found to be successful in reducing recidivism in its participants, as well as the siblings of offenders who may also participate in therapy.
Tags: violent juvenile, juvenile delinquents, juvenile offenders, reducing recidivism, This type