Blueprints for Gang Prevention: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• In Event: Innovations in Gang Research: New Directions in Studying and Managing Gangs and Gang Members

Abstract

Gang membership appears to facilitate increased involvement in violence and serious delinquency. In light of this, it is imperative to identify effective programs to reduce the level of gang membership and the impact that gang membership has in facilitating antisocial behaviors. Unfortunately, there are few gang intervention programs that meet current "evidence-based" standards. There are, however, evidence-based programs (e.g., those identified by the Blueprints for Violence Prevention project) that have been shown to reduce violence, delinquency, and drug use. The purpose of this project is to implement and rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of Functional Family Therapy (FFT), a Blueprint model program, to determine whether it is effective in reducing gang membership among high risk youth and delinquency among current gang members. This presentation provides an overview of the project rationale, history, design, and progress to date. Information will be presented on the randomized controlled trial as it is being implemented in Philadelphia. The subjects are court-involved males aged 11-17 who are either current gang members or are at risk for joining gangs. Eligible subjects are randomly assigned to receive a gang-enhanced FFT intervention or treatment as usual.

Authors

• Brook Kearley, University of Maryland

• Denise Gottfredson, University of Maryland

• Terence P. Thornberry, University of Maryland