Intervention in juvenile delinquency: Danger of iatrogenic effects?

The present article reviews the literature on juvenile delinquency intervention programs with a special focus on the iatrogenic effects of such programs. Indeed, the greater the number of adolescents with the same type of problems who are grouped in the same place, the higher the likelihood that their undesirable behavioural patterns will be reinforced. We also provide evidence for a number of factors that can prevent this deviant peer contagion effect and therefore optimise the prevention or treatment measures carried out in consequence of juvenile court decisions. The most beneficial measures in juvenile delinquency matters appear to be the ones that are centred on the youths' pre-trail environments and which do not require placement in detention facilities.