Early Intervention
Definition
Action taken as soon as elevated risk or early problem behaviour is identified, before it consolidates into a pattern of offending.
Related terms
- Developmental Prevention
- Prevention timed to specific developmental stages, such as infancy, early childhood or the transition to adolescence, on the premise that risk factors...
- Diversion Programme
- A scheme that redirects an alleged offender away from formal prosecution, typically for minor or first-time offending, into an alternative process such...
- Primary Prevention
- Universal measures aimed at an entire population or community, delivered before any risk has been identified in a specific child.
- Risk and Protective Factors
- Measurable individual, family, peer, school and community conditions that longitudinal research links to a raised or lowered likelihood of offending.
- Secondary Prevention
- Targeted measures aimed at children already showing elevated risk factors or early problem behaviour, before formal offending begins.
- Tertiary Prevention
- Measures aimed at children who have already offended, intended to stop reoffending and support desistance.