Clintcal P$olqgy Remem, Vol. 13, pp. 133-167, 1993 Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. 0272-7358193 $6.00 + .OO Copyright 0 1993 Pergamon Press Ltd. zyxwvutsr THE PREVENTIO N A ND TREA TMENT OF JUVENILE DELINQ UENC Y: A REVIEW O F THE RESEA RC H Edward P. Mulvey Western ~sycbi~tric lffstjtute and ~~;n;c Unjv~rsity of zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPON Pittsburgh Michael W Arthur University of Washington N. Dickon Reppucci University of Virginja zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSR ABSTRACT. This article reviews available evidence regarding the effectiveness of prevention and treat- ment programs to redwel’uvenile delinquency. A broad range of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention programs are considered. The conclusions reachzdfrom this review are that zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba interventions must be broadly bared, extend over zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA long time periods of development, and be assessed with fuller characterization d operational regularities. Juvenile delinquency is a complex problem that exacts a substantiai and continuing toll on our society. In 1988, 33.1% of the arrests in the United States for the eight serious crimes listed as the FBI’s Index Offenses were of juveniles aged 10 to 18 years, an age group that comprises only 13% of the population (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1989; U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1989). Although a careful analysis of official statistics revealed that the arrest rate for juveniles in the population has remained remarkably stable since This manuscript is based on a background paper originally prepared for the Office of Technology Assessment of the Congress of the United States. Space limitations have forced the bibliography to be severely truncated. Any reader desiring a full bibliography and/ or a reprint may request a copy from Edward P. Mulvey, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. 133