NCJ Number
89530
Date Published
1982
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Program and followup data on almost 1,500 youths placed in Washington State's juvenile restitution and community services programs over 3.5 years indicated that these efforts were more successful compared to control groups in lowering the use of detention, levels of institutionalization, and 6-month recidivism rates.
Abstract
The project's restitution component was generally less effective than the community service component. Youths most likely to perform well in restitution/community service programs were white males between 11 and 15 years old who were attending school, had few adjudicated offenses prior to the referral, and had a low level of restitution or community service ordered. Delinquents with several prior offenses, minorities, females, and youths not attending school were not successful in completing the program. A youth's participation in school or daily structured activity appeared critical to program success. Quality restitution/community service programs cost approximately $550 per youth, which is substantially lower than alternative incarceration costs. Moreover, considerable public support appears to exist for such programs. The evaluation concludes that a program's quality is the key to its rehabilitative effect and that this should improve with frequent evaluations, training, and technical assistance. The report recommends establishing a maximum ceiling rate for restitution and community service, suggesting $230-$245 for restitution and 70-75 hours for service. It also emphasizes that the linkup between the youth's offense and referral to a restitution/community service program be as rapid and efficient as possible.