NCJ Number
229115
Date Published
December 2009
Length
66 pages
Annotation
This report reviews juvenile reentry and substance abuse program research and efforts by the U.S. Department of Justices, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to provide information on effective programs and cost-beneficial programs.
Abstract
The majority of the juvenile justice reentry and substance abuse experts the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) interviewed cited evidence that shows cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy programs are effective and cost beneficial when addressing reentry and substance abuse issues. However, most experts interviewed indicated that there was limited evidence on the effectiveness and cost benefits of reentry programs, such as aftercare and substance abuse programs. GAO reviewed two OJJDP efforts that provide information on effective programs on juvenile justice issues, the National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) and the Model Programs Guide. Mechanisms are in place by OJJDP to regularly assess the utility of the information provided by NTTAC, but not the guide. OJJDP needs to better ensure the utility of the information disseminated by the Model Programs Guide. GAO recommends that OJJDP develop a cost-effective mechanism to regularly solicit and incorporate feedback from the juvenile justice field on the usefulness of information in the Model Programs Guide. The U.S. Department of Justice concurred with GAO's recommendation. As the juvenile justice field works to implement programs to lower juvenile recidivism rates and address juvenile substance abuse, it is important that the field has information about which programs have been shown to be effective through program evaluations. Tables