NCJ Number
181335
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: May 1999 Pages: 34-38
Date Published
1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes Ontario's (Canada) Project Turnaround (PT), which is designed to introduce the best practices of the youth justice system into the context of a military structure, and also profiles PT's development and the plans to submit it to various levels of evaluation.
Abstract
PT opened in July 1997 amid considerable controversy and media attention due to the equivocal evaluation results reported for U.S. "boot camps." PT's military model is evident by the dress and titles assigned to staff and youth. Military symbols, such as bugling to mark times for various daily activities and a rigid discipline for appearance and efficiency, are supplemented by academic, vocational, and recreational programs that are common to most young offender facilities. Also included in programming are specialized treatment in four areas: cognitive skills, substance abuse, anger management, and values and moral reasoning. Provided as well are a behavior-based reward system, a general group milieu program, and an aftercare program. To be eligible for PT, young offenders must meet a set of objective screening criteria. Selection teams have been established in each of the Province's youth facilities to identify prospective candidates for PT placement. It is premature to determine the impact of PT on young offender recidivism; however, the process evaluation has shown that the key indicators of meaningful correctional programming are present, probably because care was taken in establishing a balanced, evidence-based combination of services. 2 tables and 16 notes