ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO JUVENILE CORRECTIONS - A CASE STUDY

• NCJ Number: 54003
• Author(s): M SLOTNICK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 55 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 22-24, 1977

Annotation

A CASE STUDY IS PROVIDED OF A COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY ESTABLISHED IN NEW ORLEANS, LA., AS PART OF AN ATTACK ON THE INCREASINGLY SERIOUS JUVENILE CRIME PROBLEM.

Abstract

DREYFOUS HOUSE WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS. IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY FOR THE JUVENILE WITH NEEDS BETWEEN THE TRADITIONAL FORMS OF TREATMENT (I.E., INSTITUTIONALIZATION AT A TRAINING FACILITY) AND FREE COMMUNITY LIVING. THIS REHABILITATIVE EFFORT WAS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE REDUCED RECIDIVISM RATES. THIS STUDY IS NOT AN EVALUATION IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE, RATHER IT IS A CASE STUDY OF A PROJECT WHICH ENCOUNTERED PECULIAR PROBLEMS WHICH INHIBITED PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. A NARRATIVE HISTORY OF THE PROJECT IS PROVIDED, EMPHASIZING THE ISSUES THAT AROSE DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE AND THE PROBLEMS WHICH SURFACED AS A RESULT OF THESE ISSUES. THE IMPACT OF THE THERAPEUTIC MODEL ON INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS IS ASSESSED. MEASURES OF BOTH EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS ARE INCLUDED. BEGUN IN SEPTEMBER 1973, THE PROJECT FOLLOWED THE GROUP HOME CONCEPT, ACCOMMODATING APPROXIMATELY 15 MALE YOUTHS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 16. ORIGINALLY, IT WAS TO INCLUDE EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED YOUTHS WHO HAD ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ALSO A FEW JUVENILES WHO HAD BEEN ADJUDICATED AS DELINQUENT. IN ADDITION TO REDUCING RECIDIVISM BY 50 PERCENT, THE PROJECT HOPED TO INCREASE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND REORIENT THE LIFESTYLE. ADVERSE COMMUNITY REACTION TO THE HOME CAUSED INITIAL DELAYS IN IMPLEMENTATION AND THE ADJUDICATED JUVENILES HAD TO BE DROPPED FROM THE TARGET GROUP. THE PRIMARY TREATMENT MODALITY WAS A MODIFICATION OF GUIDED GROUP INTERACTION, A METHOD OF THERAPY IN WHICH THE LEADER, IN THIS CASE SLEEP-IN COUNSELORS, DIRECTS THE GROUP TO CERTAIN ENDS. OF THE 14 TERMINATIONS, 5 WERE EVALUATED AS SUCCESSFUL, 7 AS UNSUCCESSFUL, AND 2 REFERRED TO AS RELEASED. ONE OF THE SUCCESSFUL TERMINATIONS, WAS LATER READMITTED ON NEW CHARGES, LATER RAN AWAY, AND WAS TERMINATED A SECOND TIME, UNSUCCESSFULLY. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED.