NCJ Number
13780
Date Published
1974
Length
125 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION OF METHODS AND EVALUATION, SHOWING SUCCESSFUL USE OF FAMILY INTERVENTION AND REMEDIAL EDUCATION TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM IN JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
Abstract
SINCE IT WAS FELT THAT MOST COURT TREATMENT OF JUVENILES LEADS TO GREATER, NOT LESSER RECIDIVISM, THIS PROJECT WAS INITIATED AS METHOD OF COURT DIVERSION. IT INVOLVED FIRST OR SECOND OFFENDERS UNDER 14 YEARS OF AGE. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL MEASURES WERE TAKEN AT THE BEGINNING AND AT TERMINATION. FAMILY INTERVENTION, THROUGH FREQUENT CONTACT WITH PARAPROFESSIONALS DRAWN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND TRAINED IN BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUES, SUCH AS ROLEPLAYING WAS USED TO CREATE A FAVORABLE FAMILY SURROUNDING. EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION, INVOLVING LOCAL SCHOOL CONTACT AND SPECIAL SUCCESS-ORIENTED CLASSES AT THE PROJECT WERE ALSO USED. PARAPROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ARE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TREATMENT GROUP HAD 53 TO 58 PERCENT FEWER REARRESTS THAN THE CONTROL GROUP, AND THAT THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND ATTENDANCE. TABLES OF RESULTS ARE GIVEN. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE SAMPLE EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASURES USED, TRAINING SESSION SCHEDULES, FORMS AND INVENTORIES USED, AND SAMPLE LETTERS SENT.