According to After School All Stars (ASAS), violent juvenile crime is most likely to occur in the after school hours between 3 and 6 p.m. This is because many youth do not have much supervision from their working parents during these hours. Engaging youth in after school programs not only boosts their academic skills but can also lower the rates of juvenile crimes. For example, as a result of an after school program instituted in the community, the San Diego Police Department's juvenile arrests during after school hours decreased by 13.1 percent. Many schools have adopted these programs while some community members offer their own private programs.
Family intervention is a proactive method of preventing and reducing juvenile cases. All states utilize a form of family intervention for at-risk families by providing therapy services. Children who are likely to engage in crime undergo counseling together with other family members. This fosters closer family bonds and good parenting skills. The Prevention Researchers Journal indicates that due to these family interventions, siblings of juvenile offenders with behavior disorders are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior compared to siblings of youth and families that do not participate in family intervention.
Previously, delinquent juveniles were sent to boot camp and subjected to other harsh conditions as punishment for their behavior. These methods did not work in reducing juvenile cases because they focused only on punishment and not prevention. Alternative methods of administering justice have been adopted to solve delinquent behavior. This includes the use of special courts to try and rehabilitate delinquent youth and prevent repeat offenses. Rehabilitation of delinquents ensures that they gain social skills for coping with life situations. In this way, alternative justice can reduce juvenile cases by lowering repeat offenses.
Providing youth with necessary skills to engage in meaningful employment is essential to reducing youth crime. Federal programs, such as YouthBuild, have provided 43 states and over 6,000 youth the opportunity to engage in gainful employment. Through such community programs, youth are not only given the chance to work but also to get an education. Mentorship, counseling and participation in community service are other benefits of these programs. By having a strong social support network and engaging in meaningful activities, youth are able to avoid criminal activities.