A Handbook for Evidence-Based Juvenile Justice Systems

by James C. Howell, Mark W. Lipsey, John J. Wilson

Overview

A Handbook for Evidence-Based Juvenile Justice Systems promotes a comprehensive strategy for reducing criminal careers of serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders, including gang members, in an approach that is supported by current research. A step-by-step blueprint is provided for interrupting these offender’s criminal careers with a combination of effective intervention programs and graduated sanctions in a research-based, data-driven, and outcome-focused approach.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739195925
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	11/06/2015
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	210
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

James C. (Buddy) Howell is partner in Comprehensive Strategies for Juvenile Justice and an experienced juvenile justice and youth gang researcher.

Mark W. Lipsey is director of the Peabody Research Institute at Vanderbilt University, where he is also research professor in the Department of Human and Organizational Development.

John J. Wilson is partner in Comprehensive Strategies for Juvenile Justice and has taught courses in the legal rights of children, juvenile justice, and family law.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Research with Important Implications for Juvenile Justice Practice
Chapter 3: A Comprehensive Strategy for Evidence-based Juvenile Justice Practice
Chapter 4: Effective Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Programs for Juvenile Offenders
Chapter 5: The Standardized Program Evaluation Protocol
Chapter 6: Initiating and Sustaining Evidence-based Practice
Chapter 7: Eight Key Administrative Tools that Support Evidence-based Programming
Chapter 8: Conclusion
Appendix: Needed Juvenile Justice System Reforms

Editorial Reviews

The authors shine a welcome light on the sometimes-murky question of evidence-based practice in the juvenile justice system. For students and academics, this handbook provides a cutting-edge distillation of current research. For policymakers and practitioners, it clears up much of the confusion surrounding evidence-based practice and offers a practical guide for improving outcomes and reducing costs.

Rob Lubitz

A Handbook for Evidence-based Juvenile Justice Systems is a game-changer for both researchers and practitioners. The authors provide a soup-to-nuts strategy for juvenile justice system reform, moving the conversation from whether a particular program is 'evidence-based' to providing a continuum of intervention options evaluated as they are actually implemented, with strategies for continuous improvement. The research-to-practice gap has been officially bridged by this blueprint to providing the right service, to the right youth, at the right time, with the right quality, and in the right dosage. Truly a juvenile justice administrator’s dream.

Michael Baglivio

This comprehensive handbook is a 'must-read' for any juvenile justice professional seeking to implement evidence-based programs and practices.

Keith Snyder

If one wants to be smart about reducing crime, this highly informative book is essential reading.

Rolf Loeber

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome this highly informative Handbook, which brilliantly combines comprehensive literature reviews with practical implications for juvenile justice policy. It describes a rational strategy for reducing juvenile offending based on (1) distinguishing serious, violent, and chronic offenders from others, (2) identifying key risk and protective factors for offending, (3) matching effective services to treatment needs, (4) applying graduated sanctions as the criminal career progresses, and (5) using effective interventions to reduce recidivism. It should be thoroughly read by everyone who is interested in understanding and reducing juvenile delinquency.

David P. Farrington

James C. Howell and colleagues have, once again, produced a comprehensive work that earns the name of Handbook. This volume is the essential companion and guide for every juvenile justice practitioner and policy maker. It is required reading for anyone seriously dedicated to this work, whether at the level of beginning student, to direct service provider, to chief administrator, to state policy maker. Properly used, it will become full of yellow highlights, margin notes and dog-eared pages, as is my copy of the first edition.

Steven C. Hornsby