Findings

Have clear objectives and aims
Touch the four corners of a young person’s life: family, school/work, peer group, community
Focus on prevention and early intervention, and addresses many risk factors
Ensure there are strong partnerships and communication between professionals, parents, non-professionals, and agencies
Include education and training and teaches health and life skills
Are culturally specific
Ensure there is minimal intervention for minor offences and first time offenders – avoidance of the formal court system as much is possible preferrable
Avoid stigmatisation and labelling of the young offender
Have outcomes where the offender accepts responsibility for wrongdoing and genuinely feels remorse
Have well-trained staff who can have a positive influence on young people
Evaluate outcomes continually
Put in place reintegration measures once programme is completed

Comprise of punitive and deterrent responses involving shock tactics, punishments, and fear, for instance, arrest only, boot camps, scared straight programmes, military style responses, intensive police monitoring in the community and corrective training
Do not address the key risk factors and needs of young offenders
Are approaches with few contact hours for high-needs offenders or intensive programmes for low-needs offenders
Consist of disrespectful, unfair and shaming initiatives
Do not pay attention to the background needs of youth offenders and their circumstances
Are insensitive to important variables such as the gender and cultural background
Rely too much on the formal court system
Do not enhance communication between various agencies and actors involved