NCJ Number
106975
Date Published
1981
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of the Washington Wilderness Program, as experiential, therapeutic education program for juvenile offenders.
Abstract
Subjects were 105 juvenile offenders enrolled in the program between 1980-1981. Results of the Jesness Behavior Checklist, a 14-scale instrument of which 10 are related to program goals, failed to find significant positive effects of program participation on personal growth. Further, three scales, measuring independence, insight, and rapport, showed decline following participation. The program was found to be cost effective in that greater than usual numbers of program graduates moved from institutional to less expensive community settings. Finally, while there were significant differences in 6-month recidivism rates between participants and a matched sample of nonparticipating juvenile offenders, no significant differences in recidivism were found between program participants and offenders referred to the program but refused participation, suggesting the effects of a selection bias. 5 tables and 8 references.