Community Corrections Facilities for Juvenile Offenders in Ohio: An Examination of Treatment Integrity and Recidivism

• NCJ Number: 230600
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 37 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2010 Pages: 695-708
• Author(s): Christopher T Lowenkamp; Matthew D. Makarios; Edward J. Latessa; Richard Lemke; Paula Smith
• Date Published: June 2010
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the intersection between treatment integrity and program effectiveness in Ohio's juvenile community corrections facilities.

Abstract

Although prior research suggests that juvenile correctional programs can be effective at reducing recidivism, research has also found that some programs are more effective than others. This suggests that identifying the characteristics of effective correctional programs is an important issue surrounding interventions with juveniles. The current research not only examines the effectiveness of Ohio's community correctional facilities in reducing recidivism, but it also examines whether measures of treatment integrity are related to recidivism. The findings revealed that programs that scored higher on treatment integrity were more effective at reducing recidivism. Specifically, community corrections facilities that served higher risk youth, targeted dynamic risk factors with cognitive behavioral modalities, and employed trained and qualified staff were found to have stronger effects on recidivism than those that did not. Tables, figures, and references (Published Abstract)