NCJ Number
209296
Journal
Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 99-115
Date Published
April 2005
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of a comprehensive juvenile treatment program in preventing gang-related probationers from recidivating, using nongang delinquents as a control group.
Abstract
The Multidisciplinary Team (MTD) Program was developed to reach youth the probation department had identified as being at high risk for becoming involved in serious crime. The MDT Program consisted of five teams located throughout San Bernardino County, CA. Each team consisted of a probation officer, a public health nurse, a licensed clinical therapist, and a social service practitioner, as well as volunteers and others relevant to client need. The teams implemented a case-management protocol under which high-risk juvenile probationers received extensive diagnosis and exposure to a comprehensive individualized treatment plan. Teams were supervised by a probation officers. The sample for the current study was selected from only those juveniles who participated in the MDT Program, and it attempted to determine any differences in outcomes for gang-affiliated and nongang juvenile participants. The initial analysis examined the background information of both gang (n=145) and nongang (n=137) members as well as the various types of treatment and supervisory interventions received by each group and respective family members. Subsequent analyses examined whether there were any significant differences between the two groups on various risk factors, such as school, alcohol and drug abuse, family, and criminal or delinquent behavior. After participating in the MDT Program, both gang and nongang members showed significant improvements on such school factors as increased grade-point average, lower number of classes missed, and reduced number of suspensions. Both groups also improved on family functioning as well as having a decrease in reported alcohol and substance abuse. There were improvements for both gang and nongang members regarding subsequent delinquent activity. These findings suggest that gang members as well as nongang members benefit from multidisciplinary, individualized treatment programs. 6 tables, 7 notes and 38 references