NCJ Number
133374
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 42 Issue: 3 Dated: (1991) Pages: 25-34
Date Published
1991
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The Early Offender Program (EOP) in Oakland County (Michigan) is described and evaluated.
Abstract
The program was designed to provide specialized, intensive in-home interventions to youngsters at greatest risk to recidivate: those who are age 13 years or younger at the time of first adjudication with two or more prior police contacts. The evaluation process for the program included data collection and review of case files; interviews with caseworkers, administrative personnel, participants and parents; and searches of juvenile and adult records to record official activity of control and EOP groups. Results show that EOP cases had lower career recidivism rates than their nonprogram counterparts, fewer new adjudications per recidivist, and lower out-of-home placement both in frequency and duration. The data also suggest less likelihood of adult criminal contact at the Circuit Court level among former program participants. These reductions translate into significant, tangible savings when costs are considered associated with processing cases through Court repeatedly and high per diem charges for institutional care. In general, both parents and juveniles reported positive changes in their lives since participating in EOP. 24 notes and 3 figures