NCJ Number
205522
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: 2004 Pages: 1-15
Date Published
2004
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study analyzed the recidivism data for juvenile offenders discharged between 1976 and 1995 from Massachusetts' Pilgrim Center, a long-term residential program that addresses offending behavior in a supportive environment with a strong family orientation.
Abstract
Pilgrim Center is a 24-bed private residential treatment facility currently under contract with the Department of Youth Services (DYS). The evolution of Pilgrim Center has incorporated many of the features associated with successful juvenile delinquent programming. There has been consistent program leadership, and family involvement has been a central program component. Family focused therapy is mandatory for all residents, and multiple-family group treatment has been offered for over 20 years. The program incorporates a special-needs school that includes vocational shops in automotive repair and woodworking as well as a community service program. This study reviewed the criminal histories, both juvenile and adult, of 162 Pilgrim Center residents who left the program between 1976 and 1995. Recidivism was defined as any post-program juvenile or adult conviction. The study found that a program stay of over 11 months was associated with no future convictions for all offenders. Chronic offenders (four arrests prior to commitment to Pilgrim Center) composed 59 percent of the sample. As hypothesized, chronic offending was significantly associated with recidivism; however, chronic offenders who resided at Pilgrim Center for 11 months or longer recidivated at a significantly lower rate than those who resided there for less than 11 months. A cost-benefit analysis found that a savings of $18,690,728 could be achieved by retaining chronic juvenile offenders in residential placement for over 11 months. Thus, the cost of long-term residential care in an intensive treatment milieu is recovered through a reduction in future crime costs. 2 tables and 42 references