Can intervention early prevent crime later? The Abecedarian Project compared with other programs

In previous research, the Abecedarian Project, an early childhood intervention program involving participants from impoverished African-American families, was shown to improve intelligence and school achievement. The Abecedarian Youth Crime Study considered whether the project affected adult crime of participants from age 16 to 21. In terms of the amount and type of arrests and of charges filed, no significant differences were found either in comparing preschool with no preschool, or in comparing preschool plus school-age in-home services with no service. No effects on crime appeared in either males or females. Comparison with five other early intervention programs suggests: (1) Reducing delinquency in boys is possible without improving school performance. (2) Improving school performance does not guarantee ii reduction in youth crime. (3) Working with parents before the child enters kindergarten, concerning ways to interact with and manage the child, may be essential for any effect on delinquency or youth crime.