Saving Children from a Life of Crime

CHOICE Internationally recognized author Farrington (Cambridge) and US criminologist Welsh (Univ. of Massachusetts, Lowell) have applied a psychological theoretical perspective and "gold standard" experimental methodology to delinquency programs....Recommended.

Journal of Youth & Adolescence [T]hese two prominent criminologists have written a book on one of social science's most important matters, and one that embodies the essence of good science: the development and articulation of good ideas, a solid discussion of theory and research, and appropriate policy proscriptions that are accessible and relevant to academics, policy-makers, and lay persons.

British Journal of Criminology Overall, Saving Children from a Life of Crime is an insightful and useful text. This book's main strength is that it is a 'one-stop shop' for everything we need to know about risk factors for delinquency and effective early prevention programmes. It is very well researched and the information is both up-to-date and trustworthy.

Francis T. Cullen, Distinguished Research Professor, University of Cincinnati The current willingness to allow at-risk children to develop unimpeded into serious, chronic offenders represents an inexcusable policy failure and threat to public safety. Farrington and Welsh balance this "bad news" with invaluable "good news": there is a growing body of evidence-based practices that "work" to save troubled youngsters. Their scholarly but accessible analysis makes a compelling case that the knowledge now exists to construct a national system for early intervention. Perhaps more important, Saving Children from a Life of Crime has the power to inspire in its readers the political will to make this ambitious vision a reality. Let the reading begin!

J. David Hawkins, Endowed Professor of Prevention, School of Social Work, University of Washington Well researched and well reasoned, pragmatic and clearly written: A call to action grounded in science. This book should guide the creation of a national strategy for preventing crime before it starts.

Rolf Loeber, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, and Professor of Psychology and Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh This volume has essential, well-summarized information for decision makers, policy officials, and practitioners interested in designing and evaluating programs to reduce juvenile delinquency. Based on a sweeping survey of the scientific evidence for risk and protective factors, the expert authors succinctly indicate which programs have the highest efficacy in preventing and reducing juvenile delinquency and which programs more than pay for themselves. This volume is the most convincing and the most practical of all the books on reducing juvenile delinquency published over the past decades.

Richard E. Tremblay, Chair of Child Development, University of Montreal Farrington and Welsh have produced a timely and important work for all self-respecting democr...

David P. Farrington is Professor of Psychological Criminology in the Institute of Criminology, Cambridge University. Brandon C. Welsh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, University of Massachusetts Lowell.