National Survey and Assessment of Sixty-six Treatment Programs for Juvenile Offenders: Model Programs and Pseudomodels (From Juvenile Justice: Policies, Programs, and Services, P 299-307, 1989, by Albert R Roberts -- See NCJ-114692)

• NCJ Number: 114705
• Author(s): A R Roberts
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Dorsey Press
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Adapted from a paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Orlando, Florida, March 17, 1986. Reprinted from the Juvenile and Family Court Journal, V 38, N 3, P 39-45.

Annotation

In 1985, a national mail survey was conducted of 151 juvenile correctional agencies to obtain information on the characteristics and outcomes of model programs worthy of replication in other States.

Abstract

Responses were received from 66 programs. Of 11 program types, 2 were most frequently identified by respondents: specialized secure treatment programs for juvenile violent and sex offenders and wilderness programs. Family treatment and academic educational programs were least frequently identified. Among reasons for choosing the programs, respondents cited innovativeness, cost-effectiveness, replicability, treatment effectiveness, and ability to provide specialized treatment for specific offender groups. Of the 66 programs, only 5 had conducted evaluations or followup studies. Three family treatment programs served 436 youth and their families at an annual cost of $589 per family, 4 community-based treatment programs served 362 youth at an average annual cost of $1,450, 5 wilderness programs served 1,085 youth at an average annual cost of $1,739 per youth, and 3 prerelease and aftercare programs served 448 youth at an average cost of $3,086 each. Secure treatment of violent juvenile offenders, positive peer culture, and behavior modification and differential treatment programs were the most expensive types. Results highlight the need for both quasi-experimental and longitudinal evaluative research into the effectiveness of juvenile correctional programs. 1 reference.