Criminology

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the Chances program, a program that was established in 2004 in order to prevent juvenile delinquency among immigrant youth in Israel. Previous research showed that immediately after the program ended, all participants stopped their delinquent behavior. The current research tested the effectiveness of the program two and a half years later and explored the risk of or immunity to recidivism among graduates of the program. A sample of 145 graduates was asked to fill out a closed questionnaire examining the effectiveness of the program through self-report questions about recidivism. The results were significant, showing that only three of the graduates (14% of the sample) continued to commit felons, while the great majority (86%) reintegrated into normative life within the community including school, employment, and army service. Fears of disappointing their tutor were found central to the discontinuation of delinquency. The graduates also attributed other elements of the Chances program to their normative behavior and reintegration into normative society. The implications of this study demonstrate that although the Chances program was designed to treat immigrant delinquent youth, its success can be relevant for treating native-born delinquent youth as well.