Latest developments in the prevention of crime and anti‐social behaviour: an American perspective
| Pages | 64-72 |
| Date | 16 March 2012 |
| Published date | 16 March 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17466661211213689 |
| Author | Abigail A. Fagan,Nicole Eisenberg |
| Subject Matter | Education,Health & social care,Sociology |
Latest developments in the prevention
of crime and anti-social behaviour:
an American perspective
Abigail A. Fagan and Nicole Eisenberg
Abstract
Purpose – This paper seeks to discuss advances in the prevention of crime and anti-social behaviours
that have occurred in the USA in the last decade.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper outlines significant achievements in the identification of
risk and protective factors related to anti-social behaviours, the design and evaluation of preventive
interventions and strategies intended to increase the successful and widespread implementation of
these practices. The Evidence2Success model is described as an example of how scientific advances
can be utilised by communities to improve youth outcomes at little added cost to taxpayers.
Findings – In a very short time span, much progress has been made in prevention sciences. Spurred in
part by federal initiatives and funding opportunities, increasing numbers of preventive interventions
have been developed and demonstrated as effective, and methods for disseminating these practices
show promise.
Originality/value – These successes can be utilised by other countries to advance prevention science
internationally.
Keywords Risk and protective factors, Cost-benefit analysis, Implementation fidelity,
Evidence-based prevention, Dissemination, Evidence2Success, Behaviour, Crimes
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
Since the publication of Support from the Start, (Suttonet al., 2004) significant progress had
been made in the USA in understandingthe causes of anti-social behaviour and how to target
effectively these factors to prevent the development of negative outcomes. Research
investigating risk and protective factors related to problem behaviours has become
increasinglysophisticated, now seeking to specify more precisely the conditions under which,
and individuals for whom, these factors are most influential. Experimental research has
flourished,with increasing numbers of interventionsdemonstrated as effective in reducingrisk,
enhancing protectionand reducing anti-social behaviours. This progresshas led to increased
investigation and knowledge of how to implement and disseminate these programmes
effectively across communities,which should significantly improve the well-being of children
and families. This paper provides an overview of these advances and describes the
development of a multi-faceted prevention system, Evidence2Success, to illustrate how
scientific advances can be utilisedto transform community policies and practices.
Governmental initiatives
In the USA, the emphasis on identifying precursors of problem behaviours and using this
information as a foundation for prevention efforts was spurred by a 1994 report from the
Institute of Medicine (IOM) (Munoz et al., 1996). This report advocated for increased efforts
to create, test and disseminate prevention more widely in communities. A follow-up report in
2009 (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2009) noted vast improvements
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JOURNAL OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES
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VOL. 7 NO. 1 2012, pp. 64-72, QEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-6660 DOI 10.1108/17466661211213689
Abigail A. Fagan is an
Associate Professor in the
Department of Criminology
and Criminal Justice,
University of South
Carolina, Columbia,
South Carolina, USA.
Nicole Eisenberg is a
Research Scientist in the
Social Development
Research Group,
University of Washington
School of Social Work,
Seattle, Washington, USA.
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