Letting Work What Works—Effectively Preventing Juvenile Delinquency in the Netherlands: A Meta-Analysis of the Evidence

Abstract

This meta-analysis evaluated judicial interventions for juvenile delinquency certified by the Netherlands Youth Institute with “initial indications” for effectiveness. Ten (quasi-)experimental studies examining TOOLS4U, Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), Multi Systemic Therapy (MST), Only You Decide who you Are (OYD), Responsive Social Skills Therapy (Re-SST), and Responsive Aggression Regulation Therapy (Re-ART) were synthesized. The overall effect was small, positive, and significant (g = 0.22; 95%CI: 0.02, 0.42). Responsive cognitive behavioral therapy (Re-SST and Re-ART) and the sports-based intervention OYD seem effective, whereas social skills training (TOOLS4U) and family-based systemic interventions (MDFT and MST) seem ineffective. However, effectiveness of family-based programs can possibly be enhanced if youth at medium-to-high risk for delinquency is treated for 6 months or longer, which aligns with the Risk-Need-Responsivity model. Better program delivery and general instead of specific offenses were associated with larger effects. We advocate a stronger evidence-based RNR approach to juvenile delinquency in the Netherlands.