Project BUILD
Problems addressed
Recidivism
Juvenile delinquency
Effectiveness

Effective

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Effective

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Life periods served
Children (4 to 13 years)
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Where the program was applied
Prisons or socio-educational residential centers
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a violence prevention program for adolescents aged 10 to 17 in a juvenile justice system detention center. The aim is to help them overcome risk factors such as gang cooptation, violence, crime, and substance use, as well as to reduce criminal recidivism.
The intervention is based on four themes:
1) Improving self-esteem;
2) Communication skills;
3) Problem-solving techniques;
4) Goal-setting and decision-making.

Impact evaluations

An impact assessment showed that 33% of the adolescents participating in the program returned to prison within a year, compared to 57% of those in the control group, who did not take part in the intervention. In addition, participants took longer to reoffend (9.6 months) compared to the control group (7.6 months) [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Jason, L. A., Thompson, D.; Rose, T. (1986). “Effective School-Based Intervention: The Evaluation of BUILD’s Gang Membership Prevention Program.” Final Evaluation Report. Chicago, Ill.: Dysfunctioning Child Center of Michael Reese Hospita.

Information source