NCJ Number
184121
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 31 Issue: 1/2 Dated: 2000 Pages: 143-162
Date Published
2000
Length
20 pages
Annotation
A longitudinal study examined court convictions among 104 youths referred to family preservation services for problem behavior or abuse.
Abstract
The participants included 51 children referred to services for physical abuse and 53 children referred for multiple behavior problems at home or in the community. The research followed the youth and their families for up to 3 years after the termination of family preservation services. Survival rates indicating the length of time to first conviction and correlates of reoffending were identified in two groups identified by reason for referral. Thirty-two youths with behavior problems and 15 abused youths were convicted of offenses during the follow-up period. In addition, youths referred for problem behavior were 60.04 percent more likely to reoffend than were youths referred due to abuse. They also committed more offenses during follow-up and committed offenses sooner than did those referred for abuse. Eighty-one percent of youths referred for problem behavior offended within the first year after family preservation, compared to 66 percent of abuse referral. Findings suggested that family preservation may be less effective with youths who experience multiple behavior problems than with other youths. Future research on family preservation outcomes should consider the heterogeneity of the population served by family preservation programs and adjust the services accordingly. 30 references (Author abstract modified)