NCJ Number
188930
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 81 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2001 Pages: 206-245
Date Published
June 2001
Length
40 pages
Annotation
A study of the Intensive Aftercare Demonstration Project (IAP) sought to determine the extent to which participation in the program’s intensive case supervision and enhanced treatment services might help build stronger relationships between juvenile parolees and their service providers and better prepare them for community reintegration.
Abstract
The IAP combined strain, control, and social learning theories and aimed to reduce recidivism among committed juvenile offenders at greatest risk of reoffending upon program discharge. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention funded the IAP demonstration, which was evaluated in four pilot sites. The present research used data collected in 1998 from the program in Golden, CO. The study used an experimental research design in which participating youth were randomly assigned to intensive aftercare services or control conditions during the assessment phase of their commitment. Ninety-seven youths participating in the pilot study completed survey questionnaires at up to four separate phases to assess change over time. The study used two survey instruments to measure youth perceptions of relationships with service providers, as well as case manager perceptions of youth strengths. Results revealed that youths participating in the program reported better communication with their case manager than did other youths and that their case manager was more responsive to their needs and had a stronger advocacy role. Program case managers noted more assets in their youths than did case managers working with the comparison group. Findings suggested that participation in the experimental group was strongly associated with youths’ perceiving positive relationships with their case managers. Tables, notes, and 35 references (Author abstract modified)