The Youth Protective Factors Study is an unprecedented, multistate, multiyear examination of which risk and protective factors are most significant when it comes to reoffending—especially for more serious offenses—among youth ages 10 to 23 in the juvenile justice system. This brief is the second in a series that shares key findings from the study to inform juvenile justice supervision, case planning, and service strategies aimed at improving public safety and youth outcomes.

Decades of research have shown that addressing the dynamic risk factors underlying youth delinquency, such as negative peer influences, attitudes that support crime, and inadequate supervision at home, is crucial for reducing recidivism. Over the last decade, some practitioners have expressed concerns about the potential limitations of such “deficit”-based approaches and have become interested in whether focusing on youths’ strengths could yield equal, if not greater, benefits for improving their outcomes. Despite this interest, little is known about the impact of positive youth development, strength-enhancing, and asset-based approaches on youth reoffending. The Youth Protective Factors Study addresses this gap by examining protective factors and strength-based services for youth in the justice system in selected counties across three states.

Read the first brief, Youth Reoffending: Prevalence and Predictive Risk Factors in Two States, here : https://doi.org/10.13028/219x-vs03