Proposal Regarding Early Monitoring and Intervention for Adolescents Who Are at the Onset of Their Criminal Careers

Abstract: The monitoring of adolescents undergoing socio-educational measures in Brazil by professionals from the fields of social work, psychology, and education has aroused the scientific community’s interest as it seeks to understand adolescents’ processes of initiation and persistence in offending behavior. This paper seeks to bring forth a methodological proposal regarding the early monitoring and intervention of adolescents who are at the onset of their criminal careers. The form of assistance being proposed arose through research conducted with adolescents who were apprehended in the act of committing an offense and who were then sent to the Center for Integrated Assistance while the author was working on her doctoral thesis. The purpose of this form of assistance is the prevention of violence and not its overall control. The counseling and intervention methodology consists of three stages: applying the interview, filling out the instrument designed for the collection of institutional information, and carrying out the intervention and then a monitoring period of three months with a monthly meeting with the adolescent and their family. The results that are expected to be achieved with the implementation of this new working method include the guarantee of integral protection for adolescents and the reduction of violence and recidivism.

Key words: prevention of crime, juvenile delinquency, early monitoring