NCJ Number
61358
Date Published
1977
Length
156 pages
Annotation
THE UTAH JUVENILE COURT ALCOHOL SCHOOL, AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ATTENDED BY JUVENILES CONVICTED OF ALCOHOL OFFENSES AND THEIR PARENTS, IS DESCRIBED IN THIS INTERIN REPORT.
Abstract
THE GOAL OF THE SCHOOL IS TO REDUCE THE PARTICIPANTS' ALCOHOL-RELATED ACCIDENT INVOLVEMENT BY PROMOTING MORE RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR BY TEENAGERS IN THE USE OF ALCOHOL AND IN THEIR DRIVING HABITS. THE SCHOOL'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL LAWS, STIMULATE AWARENESS OF VALUE DIFFERENCES WITHIN FAMILIES AND BETWEEN CULTURES, IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS, AND INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT FAMILIES NEEDING ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE WILL TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING. TWO SCHOOLS ARE CONDUCTED EVERY 5-WEEK CYCLE; EACH CONSISTING OF 5 WEEKLY, 2-HOUR SESSIONS ATTENDED BY TEENAGERS AND THEIR PARENTS. EVALUATION WAS INITIATED TO DETERMINE IF ATTENDANCE AT THE JUVENILE ALCOHOL WAS EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING SUBSEQUENT ALCOHOL-RELATED DRIVING BEHAVIOR OF JUVENILES. THREE STUDY GROUPS WERE EXAMINED: (1) JUVENILE ALCOHOL OFFENDERS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO ATTENDED SCHOOL BY COURT ORDER; (2) JUVENILE ALCOHOL OFFENDERS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO ATTENDED FIVE 1-HOUR SESSIONS, UNDERWENT TESTING, AND WATCHED ALCOHOL-RELATED FILMS; AND (3) JUVENILE ALCOHOL OFFENDERS WHO DID NOT ATTEND SCHOOL BUT WERE INVOLVED IN SUCH COURT ALTERNATIVES AS FINES, PROBATION, AND REFERRAL TO OTHER AGENCIES. THERE WERE NO SYSTEMATIC DIFFERENCES AMONG THE THREE GROUPS IN TERMS OF BACKGROUND DEMOGRAPHICS, JUVENILE OR CRIMINAL HISTORIES, AND DRIVING HISTORIES. JUVENILES IN THE FIRST GROUP FELT SIGNIFICANTLY LESS HAPPY, POPULAR, AND SELF-SATISFIED AFTER THEIR TREATMENT THAN JUVENILES IN THE OTHER TWO GROUPS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT TREATMENT SEQUENCES IN ANY GROUP CHANGED THE CONFIDENCE OF PARENTS IN THEIR TEENAGERS' DECISIONS. NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WERE OBSERVED AMONG GROUPS AND IN PARENTS TOWARD ALCOHOL USE OR IN LEVELS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AFTER ATTENDING SCHOOL. APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRES AND PROCEDURAL INFORMATION, AS WELL AS A JUVENILE ALCOHOL SCHOOL FACILITATOR MANUAL. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)