Examining the Potential of Delinquency Prevention Through Alternative Education

• NCJ Number: 111285
• Journal: Today's Delinquent Volume: 6 Dated: (1987) Pages: 87-100
• Author(s): D C Gottfredson
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 14 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program Description (Demonstrative)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. This paper summarizes information provided in other reports of the School Action Effectiveness Study (Gottfredson, 1982; Gottfredson, Gottfredson, and Cook, 1983; Gottfredson and Gottfredson, forthcoming).

Annotation

This report summarizes the evaluation of 17 federally funded demonstration projects in the Delinquency Prevention Through Alternative Education Initiative.

Abstract

Overall, the initiative was successful in demonstrating that some school-based preventive interventions and treatment programs may reduce delinquent behavior. The schools became safer and less disruptive over the course of the initiative. Students' reports of nonattendance declined in more schools than they increased, and expectations to continue schooling increased in more schools than they declined. Decreases in students' alienation and negative peer influence and increases in social bonding and rewards in school were also observed. Two of the programs resulted in consistent, significant reductions in delinquent behavior according to self reports. Other programs had no measurable effect on delinquent behavior, but they are promising because they demonstrated positive effects on risk factors for delinquent behavior. Some of the programs, however, suggest that alternative schools may have negative effects, e.g., intensive counseling interventions. Overall, the evaluation provides a refined set of research questions and a general sense of the kinds of interventions that are most promising. 8 references.