NCJ Number
167787
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 58 Issue: 5 Dated: (August 1996) Pages: 70,72-73,140
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Alabama's comprehensive youth day treatment programs have reduced crime as well as the demand for institutional bed space and cost to taxpayers.
Abstract
Programs such as the Community Intensive Treatment for Youth (CITY) Program are based in an assessment that includes academic diagnostic testing, a home visit, completion of parent and youth data questionnaires, collection of school data, and observation of behavior. The Success Plan (treatment plan) begins with the youth's goals and consists of four or more parts, including academic, behavioral, family, and group components. For each part, a measurable objective is set. A plan to reach the objective and a means of evaluating the effectiveness of the plan are developed. Overall CITY program objectives are to identify each juvenile's strengths and weaknesses, to provide an individualized environment in which a juvenile can develop the skills necessary for successful living, and to alter the natural environment of the juvenile so that the newly acquired skills are fostered and previous negative behaviors are discouraged. Tracking of 231 juveniles for 1 year after they exited seven of the programs showed that 72 percent had no new adjudications. The cost per person per day for the 240 CITY program slots in eight program locations is $43.83, and the cost per bed per day in the juvenile institution is estimated to be more than $120.