Outcome Evaluation of Washington State's Research-Based Programs for Juvenile Offenders

• NCJ Number: 306772
• Date Published: January 2004
• Author(s): Robert Barnoski
• Length: 2004 pages
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

This report seeks to answer whether or not the Community Juvenile Accountability Act achieves the desired outcomes of reducing juvenile crime, cost effectively, by establishing research-based programs in the state's juvenile courts.

Abstract

This report addresses the Washington State Legislature's passage of the Community Juvenile Accountability Act (CJAA), in 1997, which had the primary goal of reducing juvenile crime, cost effectively, through the establishment of research-based programs in the state's juvenile courts. The report's basic findings indicate that the legislature's investment in research-based programs for juvenile offenders has merit and meets the primary goal. The basic findings include: when Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is delivered competently, the program reduces felony recidivism by 38 percent; the Aggression Replacement Training (ART) program has positive outcomes with estimated reductions in 18-month felony recidivism of 24 percent; the Coordination Services Program achieved a decrease in 12-month felony recidivism and an estimated benefit to cost ratio of $7.89; and no findings were associated with the Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST). The report provides a detailed discussion of the programs, including charts and cost-benefit analyses.