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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this article by Wooldredge et al. was to investigate the effectiveness of a community program specifically designed for adolescent African-American male felons.
METHODOLOGY:
This study was quasi-experimental in design. The Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) program was devised to prevent recidivism among African-American youth (who possess the highest recidivism rates in Cincinnati) by promoting self-esteem and fostering a sense of community. In addition, the program was designed to serve African-American youths who live in neighborhoods with a high concentration of adjudicated felony offenders. Juvenile offenders were referred to the program by probation officers and participation in the program was a condition of their probation.
Case managers closely work with participating juveniles and maintain contact with families, schools, and service agencies. The program includes a chemical dependence assessment and requires that the youth participate in four areas of treatment: substance abuse, family enhancement, cultural enhancement, and norms/standards of behavior.
The program included juveniles who would otherwise be sent to state institutions. The program has been considered appealing, because it can operate at a fraction of the cost of institutionalization. A control group was obtained for the study, and multivariate analysis was utilized to control for differences between the two groups.
The sample for this study included 320 African-American males who had previously committed felony offenses. One hundred and sixty adolescents were assigned to the CCP program, while the other 160 were given probation. The programs lasted from 9-12 months. In addition, the juveniles were followed and observed for at least one year. Regular probation (as opposed to the CCP program) consisted of checking in with an officer at least once a week for a three week period. The dependent variable was whether or not the juvenile committed any subsequent offenses after either of the respective programs. The follow-up periods varied from one to two years, and were not controlled in the analysis. Also, logit analysis was utilized to examine whether each of the two programs yielded significant differences in possibilities of recidivism.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
It was found that the adolescent's tendency to recidivate for any offense was not significantly related to whether or not he was enlisted in either the CCP program or probation. The findings show that the CCP program is no more effective in reducing recidivism than probation. Among the CCP population, 38% of the juveniles recidivated overall, while 22% recidivated as felons.
One variable, grade level in school, was a significant predictor of recidivism among both populations. It was found that adolescents in lower grades were more likely to recidivate. In addition, juveniles who possessed a history of substance abuse were less likely to recidivate than those who did not possess a history of substance abuse.
Results from this study have shown that the CCP program is no more effective than regular probation for preventing recidivism.
(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
Community Based
African American Offender
African American Juvenile
African American Male
African American Violence
Juvenile Male
Juvenile Treatment
Juvenile Offender
Juvenile Violence
Juvenile Crime
Juvenile Delinquency
Delinquency Treatment
Delinquency Intervention
Delinquency Prevention
Crime Prevention
Crime Treatment
Crime Intervention
Violence Prevention
Violence Intervention
Violence Treatment
Treatment Program
Intervention Program
Prevention Program
Program Effectiveness
Program Evaluation
Culturally Sensitive
Sociocultural Factors
Juvenile Self-Esteem
Male Self-Esteem
Offender Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem Development
Male Offender
Male Crime
Male Delinquency
Male Violence
Offender Recidivism
Offender Characteristics
Recidivism Prevention
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