Evidence-based delinquency prevention for children exhibiting conduct problems

Juvenile delinquency is a serious public health problem that exacts a significant financial and emotional toll on society, particularly serious violence. Children with early behavior problems also tend to accumulate an array of adverse socio-contextual risk factors over time, which serves to further perpetuate their criminal offending. Indicated delinquency prevention programs are those designed to intervene with children exhibiting early-onset behavior problems, particularly symptoms associated with oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. This chapter aims to overview developmental psychopathology research that has influenced the formulation of indicated prevention programs. It describes the general treatment strategies common across most empirically-based programs. The chapter provides examples of specific evidence-based programs that can be implemented in early, middle, and late childhood. It outlines future directions and policy implications associated with delinquency prevention research.