NCJ Number
29806
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (1975) Pages: 1-12
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT, METHODS, AND RESULTS OF THE KENTFIELDS PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THE VIABILITY OF ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY-BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM FOR HARD CORE DELINQUENT MALES.
Abstract
THIS PROGRAM FOCUSED ON FOUR PROBLEM AREAS: PROVISION OF AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION FOR HARD CORE DELINQUENTS; INCREASING PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN DELINQUENTS; REDUCING DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR; AND REDUCING COSTS OF TREATMENT OF CHRONIC JUVENILE OFFENDERS. THE SUBJECTS WERE 125 MALES CONSIDERED FOR LONG TERM INSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENT BY THE KENT COUNTY JUVENILE COURT DUE TO CHRONIC DELINQUENCY. THE KENTFIELDS PROGRAM CONSISTED OF A CONTINGENCY POINT SYSTEM (SIMILAR TO THE TOKEN ECONOMY CONCEPT) UTILIZED IN THE AREAS OF WORK PERFORMANCE, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND APPROPRIATE VERBALIZATIONS IN GROUP SESSIONS. SUBJECTS LIVED IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND WERE PICKED UP BY BUS FIVE MORNINGS PER WEEK. A SINGLE GROUP TIME SERIES ANALYSIS WAS USED TO ASSESS PROGRAM OUTCOMES. PRE-PROGRAM AND POST-PROGRAM DATA WERE COLLECTED FOR ALL SUBJECTS. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM, WHEN COMPARED TO NON-GRADUATES, HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER ARREST RATES, GREATER RATES OF RETURN TO SCHOOLS, HIGHER EMPLOYMENT RATES, AND BETTER ATTENDANCE RECORDS AT SCHOOL. SIGNIFICANT GAINS IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS WERE ALSO NOTED.