TIME FOR SKEPTICISM

• NCJ Number: 14398
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1974) Pages: 20-24
• Author(s): M GOLD
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. ADDRESS PRESENTED TO 'YOUTH IN TROUBLE - THE REACH FOR ALTERNATIVES', A CONFERENCE, CLEVELAND, JUNE 5, 1972.

Annotation

CRITIQUE OF CURRENT JUVENILE TREATMENT METHODS AND CHANGES IN METHODS, STATING THAT DELINQUENCY PROGRAMS HAVE NOT BEEN OBJECTIVELY EVALUATED AS TO EFFECTIVENESS.

Abstract

SPECIFIC RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE INTRODUCED TO DEMONSTRATE THE ABSENCE OF RELIABLE DATA SUPPORTING CLAIMS FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DELINQUENCY TREATMENT PROGRAMS CURRENTLY IN USE. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT PROGRESS IN THIS FIELD WILL BE ENCOURAGED IF THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR TREATMENT PROGRAMS APPLY VARIOUS TECHNIQUES WITH SKEPTICISM, TESTING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS SYSTEMATICALLY AND EVALUATING THEM OBJECTIVELY. HE URGES CONTINUED INNOVATION, BUT STATES THAT IT MUST BE DONE IN THE FORM OF CAREFUL FIELD EXPERIMENTATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).