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Intervention
Intervention
Intervention comes into play when anti social behaviour already exists, prehaps pre-empting preventive meassures, but when enforcement is seen as too strong. Interventions give people a second chance, and means that problems can be sorted out in and with the community. This means that those exhibiting anti social behaviour stay away from formal 'trouble and that communities are empowered to deal positively with challenging behaviour in the future. In some cases, acceptable bahaviour contracts (ABCs) could be seen as interventions. These are voluntary contracts signed by the offender to address their behavioural issues and get support to encourage this change to take place.
Sometimes intervention will be very low key. A family may be experiening difficulties, or a young person getting into trouble because they are bored, There are already services in place to deal with these types of problems, but often people are unaware of them. Interventions such as very targeted youth work or family support may be able to signpost people to existing provision, involving them in the community and helping to address their troubles, whilst also addressing the problem in the community.
If referral is not enough, then mediation can be another successful type of intervention. Mediation can occur in many different ways such as between individuals, or neighbour and between generations. Between groups within a community or between offenders and their victims. Mediation gives each party a chance to put their side to the other, through a trained mediator. The mediator will make a few representations in each direction, hoping to foster better understanding and a common solution. The eventual aim is that the two parties can meet to discuss their problems amicably together.
Community conferencing is a similar mechanism, where whole communities - for example all the residents of one tower block, get together to discuss an important issue affecting them. This is based on the same principle as mediation, but involves more preparation and a more complex negotiation.
Young people are also affected by anti social behaviour. Where the victims and the perpetrators are young people, other young people can mediate between them. This is a empowering experience for the mediatior, and often acts to reconcile the perpetrator, rather than alienating them further through the perceived interference of an adult.
Sometimes anti social behaviour stems from misunderstanding and territoriality between two sections of the community. If mediation is not appropriate in these instances, then community projects which seek to involve both sides can be effective - especially when there is an existing common interest.
Sometimes intervention will be very low key. A family may be experiening difficulties, or a young person getting into trouble because they are bored, There are already services in place to deal with these types of problems, but often people are unaware of them. Interventions such as very targeted youth work or family support may be able to signpost people to existing provision, involving them in the community and helping to address their troubles, whilst also addressing the problem in the community.
If referral is not enough, then mediation can be another successful type of intervention. Mediation can occur in many different ways such as between individuals, or neighbour and between generations. Between groups within a community or between offenders and their victims. Mediation gives each party a chance to put their side to the other, through a trained mediator. The mediator will make a few representations in each direction, hoping to foster better understanding and a common solution. The eventual aim is that the two parties can meet to discuss their problems amicably together.
Community conferencing is a similar mechanism, where whole communities - for example all the residents of one tower block, get together to discuss an important issue affecting them. This is based on the same principle as mediation, but involves more preparation and a more complex negotiation.
Young people are also affected by anti social behaviour. Where the victims and the perpetrators are young people, other young people can mediate between them. This is a empowering experience for the mediatior, and often acts to reconcile the perpetrator, rather than alienating them further through the perceived interference of an adult.
Sometimes anti social behaviour stems from misunderstanding and territoriality between two sections of the community. If mediation is not appropriate in these instances, then community projects which seek to involve both sides can be effective - especially when there is an existing common interest.
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