Underage Drinking: Intervention Principles and Practice Guidelines for Community Corrections

• NCJ Number: 238632
• Author(s): Ann H. Crowe; Tracy G. Mullins; Kimberly A. Cobb; Nathan C. Lowe
• Date Published: 2011
• Length: 111 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2007-AH-FX-K003
• Agencies: OJJDP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Guideline

Annotation

This report from the Council of State Governments and the American Probation and Parole Association presents intervention principles and practice guidelines for dealing with underage drinking.

Abstract

In 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) received authority from Congress to administer the Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) program. The EUDL program supports and enhances State and local efforts aimed at reducing the availability of alcohol to minors and preventing underage drinking by minors. The community corrections field is an important part of the EUDL program, and performs an important role in the prevention and intervention programs aimed at dealing with underage drinking offenders. The purpose of this guide is to provide community corrections professionals with information on defining and refining their role in working more effectively with underage drinking offenders. The guide is divided into five main sections: I: Setting the State: The Problem of Underage Drinking; II: Legal Issues Related to Underage Drinking; III: Assumptions and Principles for Community Supervision of Underage Drinking; IV: Context for Responding to Underage Drinking; and V: Practice Guidelines for Responding to Underage Drinking. The practice guidelines are: 1) conduct initial screening for alcohol problems at the first and subsequent contacts between underage drinkers and the justice system; 2) assess the risk and needs of youth; 3) assess for strengths and assets; 4) assess for substance abuse problems; 5) determine the most appropriate system-level response and individual-level intervention(s) and develop an individualized case plan; 6) identify each offender's readiness to change and prompt him/her to make positive changes using motivational interviewing techniques; 7) refer underage drinking offenders with alcohol disorders to appropriate alcohol treatment and monitor their attendance and participation; 8) engage family and social networks of support in the supervision process; 9) monitor compliance with supervision conditions and case plan expectations; and 10) apply sanctions for noncompliance, when necessary, and increase positive reinforcement. References and appendixes