Family

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Outline:
1. Brief discussion/opinion on crime within the family context: give different
thoughts from scholars of why crime in the family, by whom and why
2. Crime prevention approaches at the family level: challenges in prevention
3. Theories on crime prevention at the family level
4. Bibliography
5. Please give attention where referencing and make sure each borrowed sentence is
referenced.
The family
The role of the family in the development, socialization and crime prevention cannot be overemphasized
(Schneider, 2015; Savignac 2009). Research indicates that when families are dysfunctional, they become
a hotbed for crime in society (Savignac, 2009; Schneider, 2015; Eriksson, Hjalnarssons Lindquist and
Sandberg, 2016). This opinion is also supported by Murray Bowen Family System Theory that places a
central focus on behavioral tendencies that occur as family members interact, noting that engagement
between family members are directly responsible for the development and persistence of problematic
or non-problematic behavior (Johnson & Ray, 2016). Other factors that contribure to emergence of
crime include father-mother conflict, discrimination between children, lack of affection in the family,
absence of father in the home, and criminality, parental income and education, parental criminality, and
family structure in the family (Erickson 2016, Petrosino et al (2009).Additionally, Young et al. (2017)
indicates that the criminogenic profile of a juvenile offender is heavily influenced by their relationship to
the family. Increased rate of recidivism amongst the youth released from the correctional facilities
because they return to chaotic and unstable family environments have been reported by various
scholars (Early et al., 2013, Puzzanchera and Adams 2011, Early et al. 2013:). The reformative process
that these juvenile offenders go through during incarceration is at high risk of futility if they return to
family environments that are not supportive or conducive.
Olson (2010) observes that since the 1980s there are considerable advances that have been made by
several scholars to create preventive strategies aimed at mitigating the negative outcomes of youth
behavior. On his part, Schneider (2015) delineates five pillars of crime prevention; social development,
situational crime prevention (SCP), community crime prevention, recidivism prevention, and police and
the criminal justice system (CJS). Social development and community-based interventions often resort to
strengthening families by training and supporting parents to address problems affecting their children
and how to deal with them so that they do not escalate into criminal activities. On recidivism, Schneider
(2015) dwells on the importance of the family environment in reducing the incidences of falling back
into a life of crime. Pardini (2016) lays emphasis on parent management training that applies cognitive-
behavioral treatment in parent management training to disrupt preexistent persistent patterns of
parent-child conflict. He observes that these persistent cycles of conflict tend to reinforce non-
compliance in the youth. Therefore, in parent management training, parents are equipped with skills
such as administering effective discipline, positive reinforcement, and proactive observation to improve
outcomes in children with conduct problems.
Scholssman and Welsh (2015) observed that punitive measures was widely adopted to address the rise
of crime rates especially among juvenile offenders. These punitive measures led to mass incarcerations
and an increase in other severe forms of punishment such as the death penalty. However, despite the
rampant application of these “tough” laws, crime continued to surge prompting governments embrace a
balanced mix of evidence-based prevention strategies and punitive measures to effectively reduce the
rate of juvenile delinquency (Early et al. (2013). This move has changed from retribution to rehabilitation
and deterrence (Young, Greer, and Church 2017). Young et al. (2013) provides Multisystemic therapy
(MST) as family-focused intervention that addresses antisocial behavior and family relationships to
reduce the incidences of juvenile offenders. The MST involves an intensive therapy session conducted by
a professional therapist at the household of a youth offender and their parents on a weekly basis for
three to five months. In these sessions, the therapist addresses risk factors related to the individual,
peers, family, school, and the community to prevent the reoccurrence of antisocial behavior. Young et
al. (2013) documents that the MST has been shown to significantly improve the behavior of youth such
that they are less likely to engage in repeat offences. Other benefit outcomes of the MST include
improved family relationships and interactions, and better social interaction by affected youth
offenders.
In their study Early et al. 2013 demonstrated the effectiveness of the Parenting with Love and Limits
(PLL) model as compared to a conventional aftercare protocol in reducing recidivism. This model
emphasizes the need for high parental involvement to address problems associated with the youth.
Savignac (2009) reports that the PLL is an intervention that integrates group and family therapy to
reduce problematic incidences in young people, develop better social skills, and prevent relapses by
empowering both parents and their children through behavioral changes. This model addresses
behavioral problems such as chronic truancy, depression, substance abuse, and chronic truancy in
previous juvenile offenders who have been placed in out-of-home care. Early et al. (2013), notes that
the PLL systematic family engagement methodology is shown to be more effective in reducing recidivism
rates as compared to a standard aftercare intervention offered to released juvenile offenders. Closely
related to PLL is the Multisystemic therapy (MST) by Young et al. (2013), a family-focused intervention
that addresses antisocial behavior and family relationships to reduce the incidences of juvenile
offenders. The MST involves an intensive therapy session conducted by a professional therapist at the
household of a youth offender and their parents on a weekly basis for three to five months. In these
sessions, the therapist addresses risk factors related to the individual, peers, family, school, and the
community to prevent the reoccurrence of antisocial behavior.
Additionally, Pardini (2016) highlights The Incredible Years Program which is targeted at parents with
children aged 4-7 years who have been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). In this
intervention, both children and parents go through their own specially tailored therapy sessions to
improve problematic relationships between them. Other successful interventions listed include the
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) targeted at delinquent adolescents from 12-17 years
and Family Function Therapy (FFT) for 11-17 wayward teenagers (Pardini, 2016). Greenwood and Welsh
(2012) also acknowledge the effectiveness of the FFT, MST, and MTFC programs in the field of
delinquency prevention. Evidently, the growing knowledge base in evidence-based practice aimed at
preventing delinquency gives promise for the future for societies and governments alike.

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