Criminogenic Risk, Responsivity, and Protective Factors of Children Who Commit Crime: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

This Rapid Evidence Assessment investigates the risk, protective, and responsivity factors for children who commit crime to inform the design and delivery of interventions. Eligible studies published between 2015 and 2025 were searched for and assessed using the EPPI Centre Weight of Evidence framework. Thirty studies of mainly medium to medium-high quality were included. The findings identify social, biological, and psychological factors, each assessed as risk, protective, or responsivity factors, and as being well-evidenced, moderately-evidenced, or indicative but insufficiently-evidenced. The findings suggest focussing on the following areas to support desistance: developing pro-social peer associations, addressing substance misuse, managing impulsivity, overcoming difficulties with education/employment, support with adverse experiences/trauma, support with special educational needs, strengthening positive family relationships, addressing anti-social personality traits, and addressing antisocial attitudes. Priority responsivity factors include the experience of past trauma, mental health difficulties, physical health difficulties (including traumatic brain injury), psychosocial immaturity, and special educational needs.