NCJ Number
99300
Date Published
1985
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of the Planned Re-Entry Program (PREP), a short-term accelerated treatment program designed to teach social skills and facilitate parole adjustment of male wards, at two California sites: the Karl Holton and the Ventura schools.
Abstract
The program, designed to reduce overcrowding at Youth Authority institutions, emphasizes counseling, casework, life skills development, and community reentry over a 4- to 5-month course of treatment. Data were for 1,008 wards admitted to the 2 programs between September 1979 and June 1983. A comparison of the 2 centers indicates that the population at Holton was generally maintained at capacity (58 wards), while that at Ventura was generally below capacity (at 38 wards). About 70 percent of those admitted completed the program, with Holton showing a slightly higher completion rate. Average length of stay was about 4.5 months. An analysis of outcomes indicates that 24 percent of PREP releasees became parole violators within 12 months as compared to 28 percent of a comparison group of non-PREP releasees. The relative rate of violations was significantly higher for Ventura than for Holton PREP releasees. Overall, results indicate that the program has been viable in providing short-term accelerated treatment for selected wards, is cost effective, and results in parole outcomes similar or superior to those found for similar wards not involved in the program. Four references and tabular data are included. (Author summary modified)