The 40-year debate: a meta-review on what works for juvenile offenders

OBJECTIVES: This meta-review integrates the findings of meta-analyses and systematic reviews to explore the effect of intervention programs on recidivism for juvenile offenders. METHODS: The systematic literature search gathered 48 meta-analyses and systematic reviews from 53 research reports, contributing 56 independent effect sizes for analysis. These effect sizes were statistically integrated, and five moderators of theoretical and methodological importance were tested using meta-regression. RESULTS: On average, intervention programs are associated with a significant reduction in recidivism (r(Φ) = −0.09, p < 0.001) for juvenile offenders who participate in a program compared to those who do not. However, reductions in recidivism significantly vary between the levels of criminal justice system, characteristics of juvenile offenders, types of program modalities, and methodological quality. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that intervention programs can be an effective approach to reducing recidivism for juvenile offenders, especially when combined with a rehabilitative program modality. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11292-021-09472-z.