Early Childhood Intervention and Juvenile Delinquency

Arthur J. Reynolds, Heesuk Chan and Judy Temple ()
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Arthur J. Reynolds: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Heesuk Chan: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Evaluation Review, 1998, vol. 22, issue 3, 341-372

Abstract: We investigated the relation between participation in the Child-Parent Center and Expansion Program durtng preschool to third grade and measures of adolescent dehnquency for low- income, mostly Black youths in the Chicago Longitudinal Study. Based on analyses of 1,262 program and compartson-group children, duration of program participation (0 to 6 years) and extensive participation in the program were significantly associated with lower rates of school- reported delinquency infractions at ages 13 and 14. Extended program participation was only marginally associated with a lower rate of delinquency infractions over ages 12 to 16. Preschool participation alone had no systematic relation with delinquency but was marginally associated with delinquency reports at ages 15 and 16. Reductions in school-reported delinquency were due to less frequent school mobility and to postprogram parent involvement in school. Given the high costs of crime to society, even the relatively modest effects of early childhood intervention on delinquency suggest that such programs can provide another weapon in the war on crime.

Date: 1998
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:evarev:v:22:y:1998:i:3:p:341-372

DOI: 10.1177/0193841X9802200302

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