Counseling interventions for adolescents and young people in penal institutions

Abstract

The present study focuses on the counseling interventions for adolescents and young people held in custody. The study analyses the social effects of imprisonment, the incapacitation effects of custody, the need for delivering counseling in custody. In addition it reviews evidence regarding the effects of delivering counseling interventions in custody on reduction of recidivism, what type of intervention is more effective and what would be ways to improve the effectiveness of counseling interventions in custody. Finally, it proposes, based on the available evidence, that correctional treatment, in general, could fruitfully focus on the proximal criminogenic needs of youngsters held in custody so as reduction of general recidivism rates can be achieved.