NCJ Number
49019
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: (MAY 1976) Pages: 35-40
Date Published
1976
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS AS OPPOSED TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION IS EXAMINED. THE WORCESTER, MASS., PROGRAM IS EVALUATED IN DETAIL.
Abstract
THE WORCESTER PROGRAM, ENTITLED YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UPHELD, INC. (YOU) INTENSIVE JUVENILE PROBATION PROGRAM, WAS BEGUN IN JUNE 1971 WITH TWO SETS OF OBJECTIVES: (1) RESOCIALIZATION OF A GROUP OF OFFENDERS, LEADING TO IMPROVED KNOWLEDGE OF DELINQUENCY PROBLEMS; AND (2) ACTIVATION OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE DELINQUENCY PROJECT. PARTICIPANTS WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 16, AND THEY WERE USUALLY REPEATERS. THE PARTICIPANTS REMAINED AT HOME DURING THE PROGRAM, AND THEY WERE VIEWED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF ALL OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS: FAMILY, PEERS, SCHOOL, AND OTHER CONTACTS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO REDUCE CRIME BY REDUCING RECIDIVISM. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEMS FACING YOUTH, THEREBY STIMULATING RESPONSE TO THEIR NEEDS. PARTICIPANTS TO THE PROGRAM WERE REQUIRED BY THE COURT TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM AS A CONDITION OF PROBATION, AND ATTENDANCE WAS ON A DAILY BASIS FOR A MINIMUM OF 12 WEEKS. SEVEN MAJOR EXPERIENCES WERE PROVIDED FOR THE YOUTHS: (1) COUNSELING; (2) MEDICAL EXAMS; (3) GROUP RAP; (4) EDUCATIONAL/VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS; (5) PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS; (6) FAMILY THERAPY; AND (7) PARENT GROUP MEETINGS. THE PRINCIPALS AND PROCEDURES OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED. FINDINGS ON THE EFFECTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE SHOWN USING DATA GATHERED BETWEEN JUNE 1971 TO SEPTEMBER 1973. A HIGH DEGREE OF SUCCESS WITH THE NEUROTICALLY CONFLICTED AND MORE SEVERELY DISTURBED YOUNGSTERS WAS INDICATED, AND MORE FAVORABLE RESULTS WERE ACHIEVED WITH ACTIVE-AGGRESSIVE OFFENDERS THAN WITH PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE ONES. ANTISOCIAL PASSIVE OFFENDERS WERE FOUND TO BE THE MOST DIFFICULT TO HELP THROUGH YOU SERVICES. A MAJOR CONCLUSION OF THE STUDY WAS THAT INTENSIVE DAY-CARE SERVICES REQUIRE A SPECIFIC TYPE OF STAFF AND APPROPRIATE BUDGET PROVISIONS. THE MOST CURRENT STATISTICS AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION SHOW THAT 61.3 PERCENT OF THE ADOLESCENTS DID NOT RECIDIVATE AFTER THE TREATMENT PROGRAM, 21.7 RECIDIVATED BUT WERE MAINTAINED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND 17 PERCENT WERE COMMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES. THE 17 PERCENT, OR 19 YOUTHS, COMMITTED TO THE INSTITUTION ACCOUNTED FOR 114 NEW COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE WORCESTER JUVENILE COURT. IN THE SAME 2-YEAR PERIOD, 77 ADOLESCENTS WERE COMMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES, AND THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS WAS 57 PERCENT. NEW COMPLAINTS BEFORE THE WORCESTER JUVENILE COURT INVOLVED MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THIS GROUP. THEREFORE, IT IS INDICATED THAT COMMUNITY-BASED INTENSIVE CARE PROGRAMS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE IN HELPING MANY YOUNG OFFENDERS THAN INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT. (DAG)