NCJ Number
51036
Date Published
1974
Length
199 pages
Annotation
DURING 1972-1973 THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF ST. PAUL, AND DULUTH, MINN., HAD 25 YOUTH ADVOCATES WORKING TO AID DELINQUENT'S TRANSITIONS FROM INSTITUTION TO SCHOOL. REFUNDING IS URGED ON THE BASIS OF PROGRAM PERFORMANCE.
Abstract
YOUTH ADVOCATES WERE TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, OR COUNSELORS ESPECIALLY TRAINED TO AID DELINQUENTS READJUST TO SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY LIFE. THE PROGRAM GOALS WERE IMPROVED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, IMPROVED GRADES, AND REDUCED RECIDIVISM. THIS EVALUATION COMPARES THE ADJUSTMENT OF 216 RETURNEES IN SCHOOLS WITH ADVOCATES WITH THAT OF 40 CONTROL RETURNEES. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ADVOCATE-SERVED RETURNEES WERE BETTER ADJUSTED ON EVERY MEASURE USED (SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, SCHOOL GRADES, IMPROVED BEHAVIOR, IMPROVED BEHAVIOR IN THE COMMUNITY), BUT DIFFERENCES ON INDIVIDUAL ITEMS WERE NOT USUALLY SIGNIFICANT. WHEN ALL THESE MEASURES WERE COMBINED INTO A TOTAL POSTRELEASE ADJUSTMENT INDEX, ADVOCATE GROUP SCORES WERE BETTER THAN CONTROL SCORES. ADVOCATE RETURNEES WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN SCHOOL (P LESS THAN .O5), CONTROLS WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN INSTITUTIONS (P LESS THAN .05). ABOUT 71 PERCENT OF YOUTHS ELIGIBLE FOR ADVOCATE SERVICES ACTUALLLY RECEIVED THEM. ADVOCATES MOST LIKELY TO HAVE SUCCESS WITH THE JUVENILES WERE ASSERTIVE IN SEEKING OUT RETURNEES, HAD KNOWLEDGE OF SCHOOL AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, GAVE DIRECT HELP IN FINDING A SCHOOL OR JOB, LIKED THE RETURNEES, AND PERSISTENTLY MONITORED THE RETURNEES. RETURNEES MOST LIKELY TO HAVE POOR POSTRELEASE ADJUSTMENT WERE THOSE WITH LOW ANXIETY, WHO AVOIDED ADULTS, WHO HAD DEPRIVED FAMILIES, WHO HAD POOR READING ABILITY, AND WHO FELT THEIR FATE WAS CONTROLLED. TABLES PRESENT EVALUATION DATA. A DISCUSSION OF THE PROGRAM, A RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER FUNDING, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY CONCLUDE THE STUDY. APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND PROTOCOL. (GLR)