Citation

Gordon DA, Graves K, Arbuthnot J. Crim. Justice Behav. 1995; 22(1): 60-73.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0093854895022001005

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Functional family therapy, based on Alexander's model for treating families of juvenile delinquents, was provided to 27 rural, lower socioeconomic status delinquents and their families. A comparison group of 27 delinquents received only probation service. Outcome during adulthood was measured by the number of offenses committed during a 32-month period following the 28-month adolescent follow-up period reported on by Gordon, Arbuthnot, Gustafson, and McGreen. The delinquents who had received family therapy showed a rate of 9% for adult criminal offenses, while those delinquents who had received only probation services had a rate of 41%. These results were consistent with the study's previously reported adolescent follow-up rates. Procedural differences between Alexander's work and the present approach are noted, and may account for the current study's lower rate of recidivism.

Keywords: Juvenile justice

Language: en