Systematic review and meta-analysis of noninstitutional psychosocial interventions to prevent juvenile criminal recidivism

• Objective: To assess the effectiveness of noninstitutional psychosocial interventions in preventing recidivism among criminal adolescents. Method: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials assessing the impact on recidivism among juveniles aged 12–17. The included studies had a low to medium risk of bias and were published between 2000 and 2019. Standardized mean differences or risk differences were calculated. Results: We included 35 (20 randomized, 15 nonrandomized) studies evaluating 17 unique, noninstitutional psychosocial interventions. A meta-analysis found no significant reductions in recidivism for studied interventions compared to control conditions. Although single studies suggested some positive effects, the evidence provided by these studies was found to have very low certainty. Post hoc analyses indicated that studies including a low-intensity control condition might have stronger relative intervention effects compared to studies with medium or high-intensity control conditions. Conclusion: This systematic review did not find any one noninstitutional psychosocial intervention to be more effective than control treatments in reducing future criminality among juvenile offenders aged 12–17. We discuss the implications of the present findings for social work and child and adolescent psychiatry practices.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

delinquency

meta-analysis

noninstitutional interventions

recidivism

systematic review

adolescent

article

attributable risk

child

child psychiatry

controlled study

criminal behavior

female

human

juvenile delinquency

male

meta analysis

offender

post hoc analysis

prevention

psychosocial intervention

PsycINFO

randomized controlled trial (topic)

school child

social work

controlled clinical trial (topic)

prevention and control

procedures

psychology

Criminals

Humans

Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)