NCJ Number
53727
Date Published
1977
Length
31 pages
Annotation
PROJECT NEW PRIDE, A PROGRAM FOR PROBATIONED YOUTH WITH AT LEAST TWO PRIOR CONVICTIONS, PROVIDES 3 MONTHS OF INTENSIVE SERVICES PLUS 9 MONTHS OF FOLLOWUP COUNSELING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. IT IS FOUND EFFECTIVE.
Abstract
THIS POSTADJUDICATORY JUVENILE PROGRAM IS PART OF THE TOTAL HIGH-IMPACT ANTICRIME PROGRAM CONDUCTED IN DENVER, COLO. CLIENTS ARRESTED FOR AN OFFENSE TARGETED BY THE LARGER PROGRAM ARE REFERRED TO THE PROJECT. DURING THIS 2-YEAR PILOT PERIOD, FOR EVERY 40 YOUTH REFERRED, 20 WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED. THIS RANDOM SELECTION OCCURRED EVERY 4 MONTHS CREATING A SERIES OF COHORTS WHICH EXPERIENCED VARIOUS INTENSITIES OF SERVICES DURING THE YEAR-LONG PARTICIPATION. IN ALL, 121 YOUTH WERE ADMITTED. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PROJECT INCLUDED EDUCATIONAL TESTING, REMEDIAL EDUCATION, DISABILITY TESTING AND REMEDIATION, EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, PREVOCATIONAL TRAINING, JOB DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT, PERSONAL COUNSELING, CULTURAL EDUCATION, RECREATION, AND CLIENT ADVOCACY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AFTER THE INTENSIVE SERVICE PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS, FOLLOWUP WAS MAINTAINED FOR 9 MONTHS. TABLES AND A NARRATIVE SUMMARY PRESENT CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES OF OFFENSES OF WHICH CONVICTED, LEARNING DISABILITIES DISCOVERED IN THE CLIENT POPULATION, AND OTHER STUDY DATA. THE PROJECT HAD A 50 PERCENT REARREST RATE AT 1 YEAR AFTER TERMINATION. OF THOSE REARRESTED, 32 PERCENT WERE CHARGED WITH ROBBERY, ASSAULT, OR BURGLARY; 11.5 PERCENT WITH AUTO THEFT; 21.3 PERCENT WITH LARCENY; 3.3 PERCENT WITH DRUG CHARGES; AND 18 PERCENT WITH STATUS OFFENSES. SPANISH-SURNAMED YOUTH HAD THE GREATEST RECIDIVISM RATES, FOLLOWED BY BLACK YOUTH. THESE RATES ARE EXAMINED IN TERMS OF PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY AND EXPECTED RECIDIVISM. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT SINCE BASELINE DATA INDICATES A POTENTIAL RECIDIVISM RATE OF 78.8 PERCENT, THE PROJECT IS PROVING SUCCESSFUL. (GLR)