The objective;

consisted of identifying factors relating to the interruption and preservation of criminal behaviors in adolescents emerging from a Specialized Intervention Program (“Integral Specialized Intervention Program”) in the South of Chile.

The research methodology:

included the following: a) statistic monitoring over 50 adolescents leaving the program, in order to detect readmissions to the Protection System and Juvenile Justice of the National Service for Minors (“Servicio Nacional de Menores” - Sename); b) the application of in-depth interviews to 12 adolescents (six repeat offenders and six non-recidivists); c) the carrying out of interviews with family members or relatives and to the group of professionals of the intervention team.

The results:

obtained highlight the fact that 54 % of the adolescents having been monitored do not show readmissions to the Sename network; however, at the time of the study 26% thereof had been admitted in the Right Protection Programs and 20% were active in the Juvenile Justice schemes. At a qualitative level, it can be observed that the more relevant factor in the group not having recorded readmissions is support to the family and school network.

In order to improve intervention processes, the professionals underline the need to establish a specialized accompaniment system with a strong emphasis on family work and socio-communitarian involvement.

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