New York's Delinquency Prevention Program focuses on the risk and protective factors shown to be related to juvenile delinquency. Using this approach, communities first identify the risk factors that contribute to their delinquency problems. In assessing risk, communities consider a range of family, peer, school, and community factors that foster delinquency. Once risk factors are identified, the community increases the protective factors that can prevent or reduce delinquent behaviors. Mechanisms to promote protective factors may include the use of mentoring programs, organized family activities, community volunteer opportunities, and academic tutoring.
Protective factors can increase a child's own resiliency to risk.
They also can enhance the living environment by fostering positive social interaction, encouraging strong bonding within the family, and creating attachments within the community. The central concept is that preventing delinquent behavior is much more cost-effective in reducing juvenile crime than rehabilitating adjudicated delinquents. In many cases, the cost savings is measurable in both dollars and lives. Prevention strategies succeed when they are positive in orientation and comprehensive in scope. Successful community strategies create opportunities for healthy physical, social, and mental development of juveniles.