An intensive aftercare probation program for juveniles in Philadelphia was evaluated.
Researchers studied male delinquents committed to the Bensalem Youth Development Center from time of release between December 1988 and January 1990 until May 1990. They compared data for 44 experimentals who were assigned to the Intensive Aftercare Probation program (IAP), and 46 controls. The study revealed no major demographic differences between the two groups. The IAP group had lower rates of recidivism that were not statistically significant when adjusted for differences in observation periods. Thus, the IAP succeeded in providing probation officers with the guidelines, means, and motivation to intervene rapidly, but it did not necessarily reduce releasees' propensity to reoffend. To sum, the authors suggest that IAP's value has more to do with a system response effect, rather than an aftercare effect. 5 tables and 24 references