Community-based programmes and interventions for delinquent youths typically experience very high rates of in-programme failure (IPF). In view of the rapid growth in the number of such programmes, especially in North America and in Britain, it is regrettable that this phenomenon has been so under-researched. This article outlines some of the major problems posed by high IPF rates for the effective delivery, operation and evaluation of such community-centered programmes. It also proposes that research address itself to a number of IPF related issues, namely, sub-types of IPF, contributing factors, secondary prevention measures, early predictive devices and primary prevention.
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