MULTISYSTEMIC TREATMENT OF SERIOUS JUVENILE-OFFENDERS - LONG-TERM PREVENTION OF CRIMINALITY AND VIOLENCE

This article examined the long-term effects of multisystematic therapy (MST) vs. individual therapy (IT) on the prevention of criminal behav ior and violent offending among 176 juvenile offenders at high risk fo r committing additional serious crimes. Results from multiagent, multi method assessment batteries conducted before and after treatment showe d that MST was more effective than IT in improving key family correlat es of antisocial behavior and in ameliorating adjustment problems in i ndividual family members. Moreover, results from a 4-year follow-up of rearrest data showed that MST was more effective than IT in preventin g future criminal behavior, including violent offending. The implicati ons of such findings for the design of violence prevention programs ar e discussed.