NCJ Number
82409
Date Published
1981
Length
70 pages
Annotation
This report reviews the past decade's program and research literature dealing with services to upgrade education and vocational services for juvenile delinquents, with emphasis on community-based programs and services provided to the more serious juvenile delinquents.
Abstract
Typical educational services included in community programs are indigenous aide tutoring, paraprofessional and professional tutoring, group and individual counseling, cultural education, social skills training, affective training, the open classroom, stipends, the token economy, self-government, efforts to reduce the emphasis on academic competition, contract programming, and preparation for the high school equivalency examination. Some public school systems offer services to problem or predelinquent youth. Wilderness or outdoor educational programs usually last about 3 weeks and are relatively inexpensive. Vocational services include prevocational programs and vocational assessment, counseling, education, training, and practicum. The educational and vocational program goals usually involve the reduction of recidivism, street crime, court referrals, and problem behavior. The most common program structures have programs conducted over the entire academic year as alternatives to the public school system, programs providing 3 months of intensive services, and programs providing 3 months of intensive services with 9 months of followup. Most educational programs used some form of standardized testing instruments in pretest and posttest designs. Studies of the programs' impact have indicated significant effects on educational performance levels and self-esteem. No definitive evidence is available to determine the programs' impacts on most behaviors and on recidivism, crime, employment, and lifestyles. A list of 172 references is provided.