Criminogenic Risk,Responsivity,and Protective Factors of Children Who Commit Crime: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

Abstract

This Rapid Evidence Assessment investigates the risk, protective, and responsivity factors for children who commit crime to inform the design and delivery of interventions. Eligible studies published between 2015 and 2025 were searched for and assessed using the EPPI Centre Weight of Evidence framework. Thirty studies of mainly medium to medium-high quality were included. The findings identify social, biological, and psychological factors, each assessed as risk, protective, or responsivity factors, and as being well-evidenced, moderately-evidenced, or indicative but insufficiently-evidenced. The findings suggest focussing on the following areas to support desistance: developing pro-social peer associations, addressing substance misuse, managing impulsivity, overcoming difficulties with education/employment, support with adverse experiences/trauma, support with special educational needs, strengthening positive family relationships, addressing anti-social personality traits, and addressing antisocial attitudes. Priority responsivity factors include the experience of past trauma, mental health difficulties, physical health difficulties (including traumatic brain injury), psychosocial immaturity, and special educational needs.

Plain Language Summary

A review of risk, responsivity, and protective factors of children who commit crime

This research looked at recent high-quality studies to find out what the risk, responsivity, and protective factors of children who commit crime are. Thirty studies published between 2015 and 2025 were reviewed and social, biological, and psychological factors were identified. Factors were judged on how strong the evidence supporting them was, and grouped into categories of well-evidenced, moderately-evidenced, or insufficiently-evidenced. The findings suggest focussing on the following areas to support children to move away from crime: developing positive friendship groups, treating drug and alcohol misuse, improving self-control, gaining education/employment, help with traumatic experiences, support with special educational needs, developing positive family relationships, addressing anti-social personality traits, and addressing criminal attitudes, To work effectively with children, the following factors should be accounted for: the experience of past trauma, mental health difficulties, physical health difficulties, psychosocial immaturity, and special educational needs.

Keywords

Risk factors criminogenic needs protective factors responsivity crime desistance recidivism

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