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It Takes A Village

Public Willingness to Help Wayward Youths

Northern Kentucky University

Francis T. Cullen

John Paul Wright

University of Cincinnati

Starting in the 1970s, the traditional rehabilitative philosophy of the juvenile court has come under attack,and there has been a sustained effort to subject delinquent youths to more punitive penalties. Despite such "get tough" policies, a competing body of research has developed suggesting that citizens continue to support "saving" wayward children. This study surveyed a random sample of Tennessee residents to determine whether they believed that rehabilitation should be an integral part of juvenile corrections and whether they would become personally involved in this child-saving effort. The results reveal continued support for juvenile rehabilitation and for early intervention programs. In addition, a sizeable minority of respondents was willing to volunteer to help troubled youths. These results suggest that the public recognizes a collective responsibility to intervene in the lives of delinquent and at-risk youths, thereby supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton’s belief that "it takes a village" to raise a child.

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