NCJ Number
129488
Date Published
1989
Length
568 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings on the effectiveness of California's juvenile probation camps in deterring youths from recidivism.
Abstract
The study sample consisted of 2,835 youths (2,589 males and 246 females) released or removed from 50 camps during 1982. Followup information was collected for 24 months after each youth's release. Although some outcomes were reported for both sexes, females were excluded from the major analyses because their numbers were too small for analysis by subgroups. Outcome data are for the 2,115 males who were satisfactorily released from camps (82 percent of all male releases). The study found that 62.2 percent of the male youths satisfactorily released from local camps in 1982 recidivated within a 2-year followup period. The remaining 37.8 percent remained in the community delinquency-free during that period. A comparison of the outcomes for camp releases with those juveniles whose records were generally more serious reveals similar outcomes. Findings indicate that the degree of success in achieving positive outcomes depends not only on the types of youths involved but also on camp characteristics, suggesting that camps can be modified to improve their effectiveness. 152 tables, 11 charts, and 3 figures