Cooperation of At-risk juveniles with law enforcement and avoidance of criminal and Risky Behaviours: self-interest in navigating complex dynamics in disadvantaged neighbourhoods

This study examined 150 at-risk juveniles in Israeli youth villages to analyse the role of police procedural justice, effectiveness, sense of belonging to Israel, social resistance, and police legitimacy in predicting their willingness to cooperate with police and their self-report engagement in risky and criminal behaviours. The results revealed that police effectiveness was the sole and strongest predictor of at-risk juveniles’ willingness to cooperate with law enforcement, significantly enhancing their willingness to report to the police. Moreover, police effectiveness emerged as the most potent predictor of at-risk juveniles’ self-report engagement in risky and criminal behaviours when compared to a sense of belonging to Israel and social resistance. Interestingly, while police effectiveness acted as a deterrent, which decreased their engagement in risky and criminal behaviours, both a sense of belonging to Israel and social resistance were associated with an increase in such behaviours. These results indicate that at-risk juveniles’ interactions with police are guided by rational self-interest, aiming to ensure safety and avoid conflict with the police, which they perceive as a symbol of discrimination and exclusion. The results highlight the importance of implementing balanced crime prevention in marginalised neighbourhoods. These strategies should effectively control crime and deter criminals while upholding dignity, respect, and freedom. Adopting problem-oriented policing principles (POP) can assist in achieving this balance. Furthermore, expanding community-oriented policing (COP) programs such as the Police Studies Program in youth villages could strengthen the relationship between police and at-risk juveniles.