NCJ Number
165183
Date Published
1996
Length
87 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and findings from the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice's evaluation of the Reasoning and Rehabilitation (R and R) cognitive skills development program, as it is delivered to juveniles placed on Juvenile Intensive Supervision Probation (JISP) in Colorado.
Abstract
The R and R program is a mandatory program component of JISP. The program is a copyrighted education program that focuses on teaching the following cognitive skills to offenders: problemsolving, consequential thinking, means-end reasoning, social perspective-taking, critical reasoning, abstract reasoning, creative thinking, and values. The evaluation research focused on whether the program is delivered appropriately, whether the program integrity is achieved and sustained, whether the program works to change attitudes and behaviors, whether the program has an impact on post-termination rates of recidivism, and the types of offenders for which the program works best. The study was undertaken in three phases. In the first phase, group sessions were videotaped and reviewed by one of the original developers of the program. In the second phase, pretest/posttest questionnaires were administered to JISP clients, and data were also collected by interviewing youth before and after the program. Rearrest data were collected on each individual in the sample to examine recidivism. In the third phase, relevant offender subgroups were identified during the analysis portion of the study. Findings show that the program barely met the standard of R and R program developers. Although the content of the program was delivered, the process of imparting knowledge and skills to the offenders barely occurred. Some shortcomings identified were lack of lesson preparation, inability to explain concepts or explaining concepts incorrectly, inappropriate combination of program sessions, and failure to make the program relevant to adolescents. Findings from the process evaluation show that JISP officers did not sufficiently prepare for program delivery. Results from the outcome evaluation provide limited evidence that offenders in JISP who participated in the program improved pro-social attitudes or increased cognitive skill levels. There is no evidence to suggest that offenders who received the R and R program were less likely to recidivate after terminating from JISP. Ten recommendations are presented. 7 tables, an 18- item bibliography, and appended study instruments