27 March 2007
Intervening early to prevent criminality from developing
New Labour has produced a policy review paper about targeting criminals. Alongside measures to grab the wealth of convicted career criminals with language about it being the offender not just the offense being a target is some material about children. I reproduced the whole odious paragraph here:
2.35 Early intervention can be highly
effective in preventing future crime.
Individuals can move in and out of risk.
However, by using intelligence on risk
factors (such as conduct disorder or living
in very low income families), high-risk
individuals can be identified early and
specific, tailored interventions used. The
availability of this kind of intelligence is
increasing, meaning that a more systematic
approach can be taken both in identifying
which interventions work best and in
applying them. There is strong evidence
that, when targeted effectively, early
intervention and prevention can have a
significant impact and be cost-effective.
For instance, a recent NHS assessment
concluded that parent training/education
programmes appear to be an effective
and potentially cost-effective therapy for
children with conduct disorder.
2.36 Agencies are increasingly able to identify those with significant problems and at risk of future offending early in their life. To support this, the Government has invested substantially in targeted crime prevention programmes such as Youth Inclusion and Support Panels (YISPs) and the Youth Inclusion Programmes (YIPs). YISPs are multi-agency panels that offer packages of support to at-risk young people predominantly in the 8–13 age range, while YIPs are neighbourhoodbased projects providing positive activities for young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour in the 13–16 age range. However, there is scope to go even further by intervening earlier in a child’s life, and thereby creating further opportunities to prevent offending for those at the greatest risk.
Comments:2.36 Agencies are increasingly able to identify those with significant problems and at risk of future offending early in their life. To support this, the Government has invested substantially in targeted crime prevention programmes such as Youth Inclusion and Support Panels (YISPs) and the Youth Inclusion Programmes (YIPs). YISPs are multi-agency panels that offer packages of support to at-risk young people predominantly in the 8–13 age range, while YIPs are neighbourhoodbased projects providing positive activities for young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour in the 13–16 age range. However, there is scope to go even further by intervening earlier in a child’s life, and thereby creating further opportunities to prevent offending for those at the greatest risk.
i) If living in a very low income family is a 'risk indicator' of crime (and it hardly seems surprising that very poor people are more likely to be driven to steal) then how about eliminating poverty rather than criminalising children? This on the same day that figures have been released showing child poverty by the standard measure is increasing. New Labour is apparently without a trace of irony suggesting looking at a child in poverty and instead of saying "let's get them out of poverty" is saying " let's put them on a programme to stop them offending" - a programme which is of course quite profitable to run.
ii) Notice the use of the word 'intelligence' in 2.35. This is the jargon of war and goes with all the talk about 'weapons' in the 'fight' against anti-social behaviour. This is a military style campaign being waged AGAINST children. Like any other war it is also profitable.
iii) 'Conduct disorder' . A reference is given to a professional publication about "Treatment of Conduct Disorder, Including Oppositional Defiant Disorder". This particular fake diagnosis is in vogue in the US where it is linked to the movement which favours sending children to Boot Camps (usually run for a private profit). The striking thing about the definition is the abdication of all adult responsibility; children 'with' Oppositional Defiant Disorder we are told generally exhibit it with their parents and not other adults. Again; no irony. That this might be something to do with the parents seems to be missed. However; Tony Blair and the authors of the study cited can't be accussed of leaving that option uncovered or missing it; we have parenting classes for the dysfunctional parents. But - the point is that the New Labour behaviour control of children and families agenda is based on the flimsiest of evidence and is wholly unscientific. Academic studies which even vaguely support some aspect of the policy are cherry-picked and cited as if they gave wholehearted supported; there is no critical assessment of conflicting evidence.
iv) "Agencies are increasingly able to identify those with significant problems and at risk of future offending early in their life.". But we are not told how. One anecdotal evidence I saw comes from the YJB in Oxfordshire. A 'practitioner' was reported as saying that he knew Someone's little brother was 'likely to offend' and he was frustrated that he 'actually had to wait for him to offend'. So; this means perhaps picking up the younger brothers of young offenders in deprived areas. Not quite as 'scientific' as the paper would have us believe.
v) Of course, the real obscenity about all this is that the by putting young people on programmes designed for young offenders we blur the distinction. Soon all children become offenders. This is not treating young people with respect. Taken together with the finger-printing, drug-testing culture in schools we are moving towards managing all children, as offenders. It is in this context that Tony Blair's remarks about targetting the offender not the offence should be understood. This is a philosophical shift; it is the soul we are thinking about here. This is Blair's Victorian Christianity at work. He wants to redeem children from Original Sin.
I can't help thinking that if we are targetting criminals early it is a pity we didn't catch the war criminal and mass murderer Blair in his infancy.
Links
No. 10
BBC News - Child Poverty report
The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders World Health Organization, Geneva, 1992
http://www.mentalhealth.com/icd/p22-ch05.html