Youth-Initiated Mentoring for Juvenile Offenders: New Protocol Highlights Importance and Implementation Strategies
Boering, A., Groenman, A. P., van Dam, L., & Overbeek, G. (2024). Effectiveness, working mechanisms, and implementation of youth-initiated mentoring for juvenile delinquents: A multiple-methods study protocol. Health & Justice, 12(5)
Introduction
The societal cost of juvenile delinquency, encompassing victim compensation, criminal justice expenses, and reduced societal productivity, underscores the need for early intervention. Traditional punitive measures have failed to reduce reoffending rates, leading to a shift toward prevention programs targeting resilience and positive relationships. Youth-Initiated Mentoring (YIM), leveraging natural mentors, aims to strengthen autonomy, relatedness, and competence, aligning with the self-determination theory and other criminological frameworks. Boering and colleagues (2024) present a protocol to investigate the effectiveness, mechanisms, and implementation of YIM for juvenile offenders referred to Halt, a Dutch juvenile justice system organization.
Methods
The study employs a quasi-experimental design with 300 juvenile offenders, aged 12-18, assigned to one of two conditions:
- Care as Usual (CAU): Standard Halt interventions, including reflection, social skills training, and parental involvement.
- CAU + YIM: Standard interventions augmented by YIM, where professionals assist youths in identifying and positioning a mentor.
Data collection involved youth and caregiver self-reports at baseline, post-test (100 days), and six-month follow-ups, alongside official records. Outcomes include resilience factors (e.g., perceived social support), autonomy, competence, and delinquency metrics. Implementation barriers and boosters are explored through focus group interviews with YIM-trained professionals.
Discussion
The study bridges gaps in existing literature by evaluating YIM’s real-world effectiveness, its mechanisms, and implementation. Findings are anticipated to guide tailored mentoring strategies, especially for high-risk populations. YIM’s potential to strengthen familial and social networks aligns with broader juvenile justice reform goals.
Implications for Mentoring Programs
- Program Design: Incorporate youth autonomy in mentor selection to enhance mentor-mentee relationship quality.
- Focus on Resilience: Target resilience-building factors like perceived social support and competence.
- Training: Equip mentoring professionals with YIM training to facilitate natural mentoring
