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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Greenwood and Turner was to evaluate the effectiveness of an experimental residential program for serious delinquents, the Paint Creek Youth Center (PCYC).
METHODOLOGY:
The authors employed a quasi-experimental design in this study. The experimental group and the control group were composed of 75 individuals each. Subjects were randomly assigned to each group. Youth had to be male, 15 years or older, and committed a class 1 or class 2 felony in one southwest Ohio county to be eligible for the study. Subjects were assigned to participate by a judge. The control group went to standard juvenile facilities. These facilities locked down juveniles, tended to be run down, focused on remedial education and vocational training, and made group and individual counseling available. Individuals in the experimental group were assigned to the Paint Creek Youth Center. Many residents of this center had jobs while in custody, were counseled with their families, received drug and alcohol counseling, were occasionally furloughed, saw the facilities in a positive light, and received extensive aftercare. The staff at the PCYC were happier and more effective, felt closer to other staff members, and were more likely to think causes of delinquency were internal. In addition, they were more likely to be younger, white, and female. Treatment in the experimental program was comprehensive and based on extensive research into crime and delinquency.
Overall, most subjects were white males under the age of 16 who had been convicted of lower class felony theft. Subjects were twice as likely than the general delinquent youth service population to commit violent offenses. In short, the subject population was composed, as intended, of serious delinquent youth. Examinations of experimental and control subjects revealed that they were not significantly different in any way. However, experimental subjects had more prior convictions. The authors hypothesized that experimental subjects would have significantly less recidivism rates and significantly delayed recidivism rates whether measured by official records or self-reports. Self report delinquency was measured by car theft, stealing something worth more than $50, getting involved in gang fights, forcing sexual relations, strongarming others, and breaking into a building or vehicle. The authors also hypothesized experimental youth would exhibit significantly less drug use after treatment. Standard ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, logistic regression and survival analysis techniques were used to analyze the data.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
First, the authors examined the official records of the youth in experimental and control groups. Results showed that while experimental subjects were arrested less after treatment the different was not statistically significant. Survival analyses showed that while experimental subjects recidivism was delayed more than control subjects, the difference was not statistically significant. Second, the authors examined the level of self reported delinquency for subjects in experimental and control groups. Results showed that experimental subjects reported more delinquency than control subjects although this difference was not statistically significant. Results showed that experimental subjects reported more assaults and control subjects more burglaries and theft. However, the differences were not significant. Analyses of the frequency of self reported offenses showed no significant difference. Lastly the authors found no significant difference in drug use. However, they did find that experimental subjects were significantly less likely to report selling drugs.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors made several recommendations. First, they suggested that evaluative studies use larger samples. They also suggested that programs focus more attention on maintaining gains in prosocial behavior in aftercare. They identified mandatory peer support groups as one strategy to accomplish this goal.
EVALUATION:
Overall, this study makes a sound contribution to the literature on treatment programs and evaluative research. The authors focus on both official records and self reported delinquency is commendable and should serve as a guide for future evaluative research. Their lack of significant reduction in aftertreatment delinquency is not surprising. However, their call for mandatory aftercare peer support groups is an idea worthy of serious consideration.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
Ohio
Juvenile Offender
Juvenile Inmate
Juvenile Correctional Institution
Incarcerated
Intervention Program
Program Evaluation
Treatment Program
Training Program
Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
Anger Management
Prosocial Skills
Juvenile Delinquency
Delinquency Intervention
Delinquency Treatment
Social Skills Development
Juvenile Development
Youth Development
Correctional Institution Program
Juvenile Justice System
Juvenile Violence
Violence Intervention
Violence Treatment
Juvenile Treatment
Offender Treatment
Late Adolescence
Offender Rehabilitation
Juvenile Male
Male Offender
Male Violence
Male Inmate
Language: en |