Book Review: Farrington, D., & Welsh, B. (2007). Saving Children From a Life of Crime. New York: Oxford University Press. 233 pp., $29.95 (hardcover)

• Author: Stefanie Cain
• DOI: 10.1177/1541204008328806
• Published date: 01 April 2009
• Date: 01 April 2009
• Subject Matter: Articles

156

Farrington, D., & Welsh, B. (2007). Saving Children From

a Life of Crime. New York: Oxford University Press.

233 pp., $29.95 (hardcover).

DOI: 10.1177/1541204008328806

The book Saving Children From a Life of Crime authored by Farrington and Welsh focuses on the

risk factors that enhance a child’s likelihood of engaging in delinquency. Along with risk factors, the

authors also discuss various protective factors that can be beneficial in decreasing a child’s propensity

to commit delinquent acts. Their arguments are supported with numerous empirical studies. Overall,

the authors’goal with this textwas to enlighten readers aboutprevention factorsfor at-risk adolescents.

In chapter 1, the authors discuss the need for identifying the risk factors related to delinquency.

The authors also present and discuss protective factors, or early intervention strategies, which can

decrease the possibility of future offending. Several organizations and commissions havebeen estab-

lished in the United States to aid in early intervention efforts and the authors advocate for the adop-

tion of a national strategy to put in place effective interventions supported by empirical research.

Several longitudinal studies and evaluations analyzing risk factors and evaluating the effectiveness

of past interventions are discussed; however, the authors note that one must use prudence when

examining the findings of these studies due to threats to internal validity.

Chapter 2 identifies the meaning of protective and risk factors. It is noted that a risk factor must be

examinedthoroughly to control for othervariables that may alsoinfluence offending.Risk factors must

be determined to initiate protective factors to prevent delinquency. It is the authors’contention that to

prevent delinquency, protective factors should be increased and therefore the risks should be simulta-

neously decreased. Again, the authors support their arguments by describing numerous longitudinal

studies that determine risk factors and, based on these, establish appropriate preventive methods.

Chapter 3 describes individual factors within a child’s life that makes them at-risk for delin-

quency involvement. The authors note several studies which have found that low intelligence and

attainment are linked to childhood offending. This chapter also presents personality traits that are

common among delinquents and the authors discuss how certain personality traits and delinquency

are correlated.

In chapter 4, the authors describe certain family factors that may increase the chance of childhood

delinquency. First, parental criminal history is discussed. Following, other factors that may increase

childhood offending are explained in detail, such as large family size, lack of childrearing methods,

child abuse and neglect, parental conflict, disrupted families, parental substance abuse, and parental

depression. The authors emphasize that these factors are interrelated and because of this researchers

have to be careful when trying to determine which factors are actuallyresponsible for the delinquency.

Chapter 5 presents the socioeconomic factors that serve as predictors of offending. Theories that

describe why lower class children offend more often are discussed and findings from research that

suggest that low socioeconomic status predicts delinquency are reviewed. This chapter also presents

additional outside influences that can increase delinquency such as, peer influences, school influ-

ences, and community influences.

Chapter 6 describes in detail risk-focused prevention programs. Theauthors explain how prevention

programsare classified. Preventionmethods can be considered universal, selected, or indicated depend-

ing on whom the program is targeted. The authors also discuss the history of risk-focused prevention

and indicate the importance of cost–benefit analyses and reliable evaluations of these programs.

YouthViolence and

Juvenile Justice

Volume7 Number 2

April 2009 156-157

© 2009 SAGE Publications

http://yvj.sagepub.com

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Book Review