DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS - YOUTH CRIME CONTROL PROJECT - A FINAL REPORT ON AN EXPERIMENTAL ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 44554
• Author(s): W H ALLEN-HAGEN; L B ANDERSON; W H MOORE
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 107 pages
• Corporate Author: District of Columbia Dept of Corrections
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: RESEARCH REPORT 75-1

Annotation

AN ANALYSIS OF THE D.C. YOUTH CRIME CONTROL PROJECT (YCCP) DESIGNED TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTION ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

IN THE 1960'S THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BEGAN TO DEVELOP AND TO IMPROVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. THE YCCP WAS ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY 1971 AS AN EXPERIMENTAL ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. THE CONTROL GROUP OF OFFENDERS WAS PLACED AT THE YOUTH CENTER IN LORTON, VA., AND THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP AT THE YOUTH PROGRESS HOUSE (YPH) LOCATED IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE TWO GROUPS WERE DIVIDED EQUALLY WITH REGARD TO DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ACCORDING TO CONVENTIONAL EXPERIMENTAL STANDARDS. THE INPROGRAM FAILURE RATE WAS HIGHER FOR THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP -- 56 PERCENT, COMPARED TO THE 20 PERCENT OF THE CONTROL GROUP. THE YPH GROUP HAD A LOWER RATE OF PAROLE ATTAINMENT (31 PERCENT) THAN THE GROUP AT LORTON (50 PERCENT). THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR THE TWO GROUPS. THIS EXPERIMENT PROVIDED A MEANS FOR: (1) THE ASSESSMENT OF OUTCOMES OF TWO PROGRAMS INCLUDING COMPARATIVE RECIDIVISM AND COST ANALYSIS; (2) CONTINUAL EVALUATION OF YPH INPROGRAM PROCESSES AND POLICIES; AND (3) EVENTUAL ANALYSIS OF THE TREATMENT PROCESSES IN RELATION TO OFFENDER TYPES. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED AS A 5-YEAR PROJECT, BUT A DISPUTE AROSE OVER THE EFFECTIVENESS AND FUNDING, SO THE PROJECT WAS TERMINATED IN MARCH 1974. THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT THE PROGRAM FAILURES OF THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP WERE LESS LIKELY TO RETURN TO PRISON FOR NEW CONVICTIONS THAN THE CONTROL GROUP (22 PERCENT TO 54 PERCENT), AND THE CONTROL GROUP WAS MORE LIKELY TO BE CONVICTED OF A NEW CRIME THAN THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP -- 26 PERCENT COMPARED TO 13 PERCENT. HOWEVER, WITH REGARD TO ALL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, NEITHER GROUP WAS FOUND MORE LIKELY TO BE CONVICTED OF A NEW CRIME. A COST ANALYSIS OF THE TWO GROUPS SHOWED THAT THE OVERALL COST FOR THE YPH GROUP WAS $210,000 LESS THAN THAT OF THE CONTROL GROUP. THE ACTUAL SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IS QUESTIONABLE, SINCE THERE WAS AN INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF SUCCESSES TO ESTABLISH WHICH PROGRAM HAD A BETTER SUCCESS/FAILURE RATE. APPENDIXES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (BAC)