Evaluation of the Sprite Program

• NCJ Number: 129429
• Author(s): N Troia
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 19 pages
• Corporate Author: Wisconsin Dept of Health and Social Services
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

An adventure program designed to teach prosocial behavior, independent living skills, and responsibility to promote the rehabilitation of delinquent youth in Wisconsin was evaluated using data from all youth completing the program since 1987.

Abstract

The Support, Pride, Respect, Initiative, Teamwork, Education (SPRITE) Program began in 1978 and lasts 3 to 4 weeks for each youth. It consists of orientation, rock climbing, a group wilderness expedition, wilderness solo, urban experience, and community service work experience. Findings showed that 35 percent of the 171 SPRITE graduates studied were subsequently admitted to a correctional facility, compared to 37.7 percent of the general juvenile male institutional population. In addition, SPRITE graduates had an adult incarceration of 13 percent, compared to 17.3 percent for other males released from juvenile institutions. SPRITE was most effective with youth convicted of assaultive offenses and least effective with youths convicted of property offenses. In addition, older youth experienced less recidivism than younger youth. Figures and appended tables