YOKE CREST - AN ALTERNATIVE TO PRISON - FINAL EVALUATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 15759
• Author(s): M SILBERMAN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 161 pages
• Grant Number(s): DS-340-73E
• Sponsoring Agency: Pennsylvania Governor's Justice Cmssn
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REVIEW OF A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO REHABILITATE THE YOUNG ADULT DRUG-RELATED CRIMINAL OFFENDER.

Abstract

SEVERAL DIFFERENT MEASURES WERE INVOLVED IN THE EVALUATION OF YOKE CREST. ON-SITE VISITS, INTERVIEWS, AND FOUR DIFFERENT RESIDENT QUESTIONNAIRES WERE UTILIZED. ANOTHER QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DEVELOPED FOR THE JUDGES AND PROBATION OFFICERS WHO REFERRED OFFENDERS TO YOKE CREST. A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS WAS ALSO PERFORMED. ABOUT 35 PERCENT OF THE RESIDENTS GRADUATE FROM THE PROGRAM AFTER AN AVERAGE RESIDENCY OF 18 MONTHS. THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS ABOUT 5 PER CENT. FORTY PER CENT OF THE RESIDENTS DROP OUT WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF BEING IN THE PROGRAM. IT WAS FOUND THAT MOST OF THE CHANGES IN SELF-CONTROL, SELF-CONCEPT, AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR OCCURED WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY EVALUATORS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROGRAM BE SHORTENED TO A MAXIMUM OF 12 MONTHS. OTHER REASONS INCLUDED HIGH ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD AND A COST OVERRUN ON CLIENT PER DIEM EXPENSES. EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT, OVERALL, THE PROGRAM WAS SUCCESSFUL IN HAVING AN IMPACT ON YOUNG DRUG-RELATED OFFENDERS.