NCJ Number
63004
Date Published
1978
Length
34 pages
Annotation
START CENTERS (SC), A FLORIDA SUBSTITUTE FOR JUVENILE IMPRISONMENT, ARE SMALL, COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT CENTERS PRODUCING RELATIVELY FAVORABLE RECIDIVISM RATES.
Abstract
EACH SC HANDLES 20 TO 25 DELINQUENT YOUTHS UNABLE TO COPE WITH COMMUNITY LIVING BUT NOT NEEDING INSTITUTIONALIZATION. SC YOUTHS COMMITTED TO SC'S MAY WORK, ATTEND IN-HOUSE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, OR PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FIELD TRIPS. RESIDENTS LEARN LIVING SKILLS THROUGH UNDERSTANDING PROBLEMSOLVING TECHNIQUES, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, AND ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. THE TREATMENT PROGRAM'S CORE IS DAILY REALITY THERAPY, WHICH PROVIDES POSITIVE PEER SUPPORT. SC'S HAVE SYSTEM LEVELS, BEHAVIOR OBJECTIVES THAT MUST BE ACHIEVED TO GAIN MORE FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY OR PROVE READINESS FOR RELEASE. INFORMATION USED IN THIS REPORT COMES FROM A DATA FILE ON COMMITTED YOUTH, ANNUAL EVALUATION OF FLORIDA YOUTH SERVICES TRAINING PROGRAMS, CASE REVIEWS OF ALL YOUTH UNDER FIELD SUPERVISION (INCLUDING AFTERCARE), AND YOUTH SERVICES FILES CHECKED FOR RECIDIVISM. NINETY-THREE YOUTHS WERE PLACED IN SC'S IN 1977, FIRST QUARTER. THE AVERAGE AGE WAS 15.4 YEARS; ONE-THIRD WERE BLACK AND 55 PERCENT WERE COMMITTED FOR PROPERTY CRIMES. SEVENTY-NINE PERCENT WERE FIRST OFFENDERS, MOST TENDING TO LESS SERIOUS OFFENSES. THE AVERAGE SC STAY WAS 105 DAYS. RESULTS OF EVALUATION SHOW THAT SC EDUCATION PROGRAMS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. ALTHOUGH SCHOOL AND JOB INVOLVEMENT DISCOURAGE RECIDIVISM, ONLY 42 PERCENT OF SC RELEASEES WERE IN SCHOOL AFTER 6 MONTHS, AND ONLY 22 PERCENT WERE EMPLOYED. RECIDIVISM AFTER 18 MONTHS WAS 20 PERCENT FOR FEMALES, 40 PERCENT FOR MALES. OVERALL, SC'S ARE FAIRLY STABLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE. TABULAR INFORMATION AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED.