NCJ Number
13851
Date Published
Unknown
Length
33 pages
Annotation
GROUP HOMES OFFER A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE TRANSITION FROM DELINQUENT TO NON-DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR PATTERNS FOR THOSE YOUTHS WHO ARE ABLE TO ADJUST TO GROUP-HOME LIFE.
Abstract
DATA WERE GATHERED ON 129 YOUTHS FROM APPROXIMATELY 20 GROUP HOMES IN THE MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AREA. THE GROUP HOME IS DESCRIBED AS AN INFORMAL TREATMENT PROGRAM WHICH FOCUSES UPON RESOCIALIZATION OF JUVENILES IN A FAMILY COMMUNITY SETTING. AN ANALYSIS OF PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS, CORRECTIONAL HISTORY, AND FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND RELATIONSHIPS REVEALED THAT THE YOUTHS WERE CHARACTERIZED BY A MARKED LACK OF STABILITY, DISCIPLINE, SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT IN THEIR FAMILY HOME LIFE. FURTHERMORE, THE RESULTS SHOW THAT NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF THOSE WHO WERE CLASSIFIED AS SUCCESSFUL ADJUSTERS COMMITTED A NEW OFFENSE, THUS NECESSITATING THEIR REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM. ONE-FIFTH OF THE SUBJECTS FAILED TO ADJUST TO GROUP HOME-LIFE, WHILE ONLY ONE-FIFTH COMPLETED THEIR STAY SUCCESSFULLY. THOSE YOUTHS PLACED DIRECTLY IN GROUP HOMES WERE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN THOSE WHO WERE ON PAROLE. DATA ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM.