NCJ Number
221475
Date Published
November 2007
Length
87 pages
Annotation
This report presents data on recidivism rates for juvenile offenders released from out-of-home secure residential placements and nonsecure programs between 1994 and 2006 by the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth, and their Families, Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services.
Abstract
The study's main measure of recidivism was a felony rearrest following release from placement. Recidivism rates are reported for 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after release from placement. Between fiscal year 1997 (July to June) and fiscal year 2006 (the last year that a full cohort of releases could be studied for being at-risk for 12 months), the recidivism rate decreased from 52 percent for youth released from 5,653 Level-V placements during fiscal year 1997 to 44 percent for those released in fiscal year 2006, a 15-percent decrease in felony rearrest recidivism. Level V placement consists of locked secure institutional settings with the most intensive programming available. For 5,432 Level-IV placements, the recidivism rate for 1 year after release decreased from 51 percent in fiscal year 1997 to 38 percent in fiscal year 2006, a 25-percent decrease in felony rearrest recidivism. Level-IV placements are staff secure programs that provide 24-hour supervision and general diagnostic substance abuse and sex-offender treatment. Juveniles released from 7,492 Level-III placements showed a decrease in recidivism rate from 36 percent in fiscal year 1999 to 29 percent in fiscal year 2006 1 year after release, a 19-percent reduction in felony rearrest recidivism. Level-III programs provide programming in nonsecure settings. 5 tables, 3 figures, and appended historical recidivism rates