Children, parenting and education: addressing the causes of offending

Young people and adults who exhibit serious and persistent offending are usually found to have patterns of behaviour dating back to their early years. Findings from longitudinal studies and developments in neuroscience provide robust evidence of factors contributing to negative outcomes. The key to prevention lies in the early years and  parents having a good understanding of their role in shaping their children’s behaviour. This paper outlines the importance of early intervention and the role of parent education in ensuring that children do not develop negative patterns of behaviour that place them at risk of later offending.