NCJ Number
199168
Journal
Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2002 Pages: 21-35
Date Published
2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article evaluates the nature and content of therapeutic wilderness programming on juvenile offenders.
Abstract
After contending that the American juvenile justice system employs a wide range of therapeutic modalities in order to rehabilitate youthful offenders, the authors describe their survey of therapeutic wilderness camps conducted in the spring 1999. Focusing on the nature, function, and operation of therapeutic wilderness programs, the authors surveyed a series of agencies that were listed by the National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camps as providing therapeutic wilderness programming to juvenile offenders. Thirty-five of 89 surveys were returned to the authors, and these researchers found that while therapeutic wilderness program participants ranged in age from 11- to 17-years-old, older participants comprised larger numbers. Furthermore, the authors found that 88 percent of program participants were males, 59 percent were Anglos, 27 percent were African-Americans, and 8 percent were Hispanics. Focusing on the general characteristics of the therapeutic wilderness camps, the authors found that most programs averaged 55 individuals and cost approximately $138 per day, with most camps lasting 224 days a year. Most wilderness programs employed a total of 40 staff members, and the programs often excluded both females and juveniles convicted of sexual offenses from participating in the program. The authors conclude that future research needs to address the overall effectiveness of wilderness programming in treating juvenile offenders. Tables, references