Estimating the Direct Costs and Benefits of Alternative Approaches

We have reviewed studies demonstrating that effective early intervention could reduce either the actual incidence of later criminal behavior or at least the risk factors (such as child abuse or behavioral problems in school) that are closely associated with future criminality. In this chapter, we estimate the direct costs and crime-reduction benefits of implementing such programs in California to address the needs of children at risk of future criminality. We consider four generic types of intervention: early-childhood home visits and day care; parent training and social-skills development for youths; programs aimed at improving the educational attainment of disadvantaged youths; and correctional interventions for young juvenile delinquents. We first discuss each of these, its costs, and potential. We then estimate the costs and benefits of providing these interventions to at-risk youths in California on a per-participant basis and compare programs based on the expected number of crimes prevented per million dollars spent.