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Interviewing for Solutions: A Strength-based Method for Juvenile Justice

NCJ Number
170137
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1997) Pages: 98,100-102
Author(s)
M D Clark
Date Published
1997
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The use of a strength-based model to promote productive conversations with juvenile offenders as a first step toward behavioral change is discussed, with emphasis on the questions to ask and the rationale for the questions.
Abstract
The strength-based model focuses on solutions rather than problems. It also aims to have youths say that they will change, as if change were the youth's original idea. The five types of questions to use are (1) pre-session change questions, (2) exception questions, (3) the miracle question, (4) scaling questions, and (5) coping questions. Pre-session questions ask the offender to report good changes that have occurred in their situation before their first appointment at court. Exception questions ask the youth and family to notice positive behavioral changes by asking whether there have been times recently when the problem did not occur. The miracle question asks the youth what would be different if a miracle had happened overnight to eliminate the problems that resulted in the court appearance. Scaling questions ask youth to rate their current situation on a scale of 1 to 10. coping questions gather subjective information quickly and easily by asking youths how they have managed to cope and how they have managed to stop the problem from becoming worse. Using these questions in a strength-based approach with solution-focused techniques can decrease the intensity of problems while increasing the sense that they can be solved. 5 references

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