Make Me a Criminal: Preventing youth crime

This report makes the case for a more therapeutic and family-based approach to youth offending, as opposed to the present, more punitive, system. The arguments for the proposed approach appear persuasive  not only on humanitarian grounds, but also in terms of economics and efficacy.

This paper argues that:
- Primary-level, universal strategies must improve the capacity of communities including families, local community, schools, early years education and youth activities to socialise norms of behaviour and respect for communities. This is particularly important in light of social change affecting these institutions.
- Secondary-level, targeted strategies must improve the capacity of social services, health services and specialist programmes to both reach and improve the behaviour of the most-at-risk groups, such as those committing anti-social behaviour, showing emotional problems, or having problems at school.
- Tertiary-level reforms must improve the capacity of criminal justice system to both punish and rehabilitate offenders.