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Early Developmental Crime Prevention and Social Impact over the Life Course

Author

Listed:
  • Brandon C. Welsh
  • Heather L. Paterson
  • Michael Rocque
  • David P. Farrington

Abstract

Preventing the development of criminal potential in young people is an important component of broader crime reduction strategies. A key feature of developmental crime prevention is a comprehensive effort to improve the life chances of at-risk children and families, and there is evidence that doing so improves long-term life-course outcomes like physical health, mental health, education, and employment. We assess available research evidence from 12 high-quality studies of developmental crime prevention initiatives and find that extensive use of multimodal interventions helps to foster cumulative protection over the life course, that there are significant improvements in other outcomes over the life course, that there are promising signs of intergenerational transmission of the intervention effects, and that there is strong support for these sorts of interventions from the perspective of benefit-cost analysis. We also discuss implications for public policy and research.

Suggested Citation

  • Brandon C. Welsh & Heather L. Paterson & Michael Rocque & David P. Farrington, 2024. "Early Developmental Crime Prevention and Social Impact over the Life Course," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 714(1), pages 74-96, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:714:y:2024:i:1:p:74-96
    DOI: 10.1177/00027162251341938
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nancy La Vigne & Tamara D. Herold, 2024. "Advancing Crime Prevention and Social Justice: The National Institute of Justice’s Priorities and Investments," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 714(1), pages 226-234, July.
    2. John J. Donohue & Peter Siegelman, 2024. "Allocating Resources Among Prisons and Preschool: An Analysis of the New Evidence," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 714(1), pages 114-133, July.

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