Can Puppets Keep Kids Out of the Juvenile Justice System?

Can puppets keep kids out of the juvenile justice system? Surprisingly, the answer is "yes."
Because “early onset aggression in children as young as age 3 is the single most-important predictor of later delinquency, substance abuse and violence," Professor Carolyn Webster-Stratton at the University of Washington developed the curriculum, "The Incredible Years," part of which involves using puppets to communicate with young, at-risk children.

An approach classed as early intervention, "The Incredible Years" is in SAMHSA's database of evidence-based practices and is used on chlidren aged 2-12. Above is a video still from Webster-Stratton's hour-long faculty lecture describing the intervention, complete with video clips of its techniques in action. (Click on the still to see the video.)