NCJ Number
25140
Date Published
1974
Length
60 pages
Annotation
COMPARISON OF TWO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROGRAMS IN RELATION TO THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN REDUCING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
THE YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU (YSB) SYSTEM (WHICH INCLUDES SIX YSB'S) WAS INITIATED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING TO DELINQUENT JUVENILES. THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROJECT (YOP) PROVIDED DIRECT COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICES TO FIRST OFFENDERS. BOTH PROGRAMS WERE ESTABLISHED AS ALTERNATIVES TO THE YOUTH SERVICE CENTER, A PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE KING COUNTY JUVENILE COURT. (THE YOUTH SERVICE CENTER PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES IN BOTH CHILD CARE, INCLUDING DETENTION, AND PROBATION, INCLUDING COUNSELING.) DISCUSSED ARE THE REASONS WHY ALTERNATIVES TO THIS ORIGINAL PROGRAM WERE INITIATED. EACH PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED IN RELATION TO ITS GOALS, OBJECTIVES, SERVICES, PROGRAM EFFICIENCY, AND EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROJECT HAD A LOWER COST PER CASE THAN THE YSB'S, AND THAT BOTH ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS WERE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE YOUTH SERVICE CENTER. THE YOP WAS ALSO JUDGED MORE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM AMONG FIRST OFFENDER CLIENTS. SINCE DISSIMILAR REFERRALS AND CLIENTELE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR EXACUATORS TO RATE ONE PROGRAM AS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE OTHER, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT BOTH PROJECTS BE CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND THEN RE-COMPARED.