“What Works” in Community-Based Crime Prevention Programs for At-Risk Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Over the last few decades there has been an increasing focus on community-based programming for crime prevention. Amid the vast literature on crime prevention programs, comprehensive research focusing on community-based approaches is sparse. The current study systematically reviewed and summarized the available literature to date on the effectiveness of community-based prevention programs for at-risk youth in an effort to draw conclusions about what works best in preventing crime. A meta-analytical approach was used in the current analysis to identify a) the program type and b) the program approach that demonstrate the most promise in preventing crime for at-risk youth in community-based settings. Recommendations for future research in designing and evaluating crime prevention programs are provided.

Authors

• Jennifer Wong, Simon Fraser University

• Jessica Bouchard, Simon Fraser University

• Martin Bouchard, Simon Fraser University

• Carlo Morselli, Université de Montréal

• Jason Gravel, University of California, Irvine