NCJ Number
63008
Date Published
1978
Length
28 pages
Annotation
FLORIDA'S INTENSIVE COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IS EVALUATED USING DATA FROM THE YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES.
Abstract
THE INTENSIVE COUNSELING PROGRAM IS A NONRESIDENTIAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION FOR GROUPS OF 8 TO 10 DELINQUENTS. BEGUN IN 1974, IT CURRENTLY OPERATES AT 18 LOCATIONS WITH A TOTAL BUDGETED CAPACITY OF 144 YOUTHS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES INTENSIVE GROUP MEETINGS FOR THE JUVENILES, MANDATORY WEEKLY PARENT GROUP SESSIONS, AND REFERRALS TO OTHER AGENCIES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS SUCH AS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OR DRUG PROGRAMS. INTENSIVE COUNSELING PLACEMENTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE MALE AND OLDER THAN ALL YOUTH SERVICES COMMITMENTS, BUT RACIAL AND OFFENSE CHARACTERISTICS WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE GENERAL COMMITTED POPULATION. OF THE INTENSIVE COUNSELING PLACEMENTS FROM JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 1977, 92 PERCENT WERE MALE AND THE AVERAGE AGE WAS 6.4 YEARS. TWO-THIRDS HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH FELONIES AND 42 PERCENT WERE BLACK. YOUTHS IN THEIR FIRST COMMITMENT HAD HIGHER PROBABILITIES OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM COMPLETION THAN DID YOUTHS WITH PREVIOUS COMMITMENT EXPERIENCE (75 PERCENT VERSUS 61 PERCENT). TRANSFERS, USUALLY TO THE MORE RESTRICTIVE TRAINING SCHOOLS, OFTEN OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 45 DAYS OF PLACEMENT, INDICATING THAT MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF HANDLING INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED. ALTHOUGHT THE MEAN STAY IN INTENSIVE COUNSELING WAS 119 DAYS, THE AVERAGE TOTAL COMMITMENT TIME OF 134 DAYS WAS HIGHER THAN THE BUDGETED 120-DAY STAY. OVER 74 PERCENT OF RELEASES FROM AFTERCARE WERE HONORABLE. THE RECIDIVISM RATE WAS 26 PERCENT AFTER FURLOUGH, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AS IN 1974-75. ALL RECIDIVISM OCCURRED WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF FURLOUGH. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT INTENSIVE COUNSELING REPRESENTS A FAIRLY STABLE, COST EFFECTIVE, AND IMPORTANT VARIANT IN THE ARRAY OF YOUTH SERVICES TREATMENT PROGRAMS. TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)