TOWARDS MORE EFFECTIVE YOUTH OFFENDER INTERVENTION: LESSONS FROM A PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH STUDY

Abstract

The results of a participatory action research aiming the empowerment of institutional and community networks in the field of the intervention on youth offenders are presented. This paper focuses the analysis on several dimensions allowing us to have a broader perspective on the advances and challenges faced by intervention programs on youth offenders. The results show the obstacles faced by these interveners in order to achieve efficiency in the use of resources within these networks. This is due to the fragmentation of public policies targeting these young offenders. It is also due to some barriers related to the inclusion of the community dimension within these programs and also related to the mechanisms in place in order to provide funding. Some improvements in the understanding and integration of these dimensions by the interveners are also highlighted. Improvements in the continuity and complementarity of the work of these networks in order to increase the integration of the community level within the intervention are also found.