Doing Better with “Bad Kids”: Explaining the Policy-Research Gap with Conduct Disorder in Canada

Conduct disorder (severe and persistent antisocial behaviour in children and youth) is an important community mental health problem in Canada and has been the focus of considerable recent public policy debate. Good research evidence is available on effective (and ineffective) interventions for conduct disorder. Paradoxically, however, relatively little of the research evidence is incorporated into policy decision-making. There is a policy-research gap. An example (Hamilton, Ontario) is used to illustrate this gap. The gap is then explained using a framework for health policy analysis that incorporates values, institutional structures, and information. Values and institutional structures greatly outweigh research evidence in influencing current Canadian policy-making for the problem of conduct disorder. Possibilities for improving the situation are suggested. The youth who sprang his girlfriend from Arrell Youth (secure custody) Centre has a record many career criminals would envy. Unfortunately for society, he just turned 15 and has discovered an interest in illegal handguns. “This is a one-kid crime wave,” said a Hamilton-Wentworth police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He's not like other child criminals—not even close. He's a bad kid.” That kid is in police custody today (Herron, 1995).

Doing Better with “Bad Kids”: Explaining the Policy-Research Gap with Conduct Disorder in Canada Journal Articles