AN EVALUATION OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER (YDC), AS PREPARED BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, IS PRESENTED; CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROVIDED.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE EVALUATED PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AN INTAKE, CLASSIFICATION, AND PLACEMENT PROCESS AT THE NEW HAMPSHIRE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER (YDC). IT WILL ENSURE AN INTEGRATED APPROACH BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL LINE TREATMENT AND SUPPORT STAFF IN THE CREATION OF INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLANS FOR ALL YOUTH COMMITTED TO THE CUSTODY OF YDC. THE FOUR PROJECT COMPONENTS INCLUDE THE DIAGNOSTIC, INTAKE, AND CLASSIFICATION LOCATION SYSTEM; TREATMENT; RESEARCH AND EVALUATION; AND TRAINING AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT. FROM THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FOR THE PROJECT PERIOD OCTOBER 1, 1978, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1979, SEVERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DRAWN. THE CLASSIFICATION SCHEME IN CURRENT USE PROVIDES A SYSTEMATIC METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF COMMITTED YOUTH AND ADDRESSING TREATMENT TOWARDS SPECIFIC NEEDS; IT IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PRIOR SYSTEM WHICH DID NOT DIFFERENTIATE YOUNG OFFENDERS AND PROVIDED BLANKET TREATMENT MODES. COMPLETE IMPACT EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INTAKE-LOCATION PROJECT, WHICH DESIGNATES EITHER PLACEMENT IN A YDC TREATMENT FACILITY, REFERRAL TO ANOTHER STATE FACILITY, OR SUPERVISED DIVERSION BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, CANNOT YET BE DETERMINED DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE DATA. LIMITED FACILITIES IN THE COTTAGE ASSIGNMENTS FOR GIRLS AND INABILITY TO CONTROL THE AFTERCARE COMPONENT REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT. IN ADDITION, COMMUNITY RESOURCES WHICH WOULD FACILITATE THE YOUTH'S ADJUSTMENT UPON RELEASE ARE GENERALLY UNAVAILABLE. THERE IS LITTLE CORRELATION BETWEEN ADAPTATION AT YDC AND ADAPTATION TO SOCIETY AFTER RELEASE. THE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION UNIT SHOULD STRIVE TO DETERMINE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS TREATMENT AND PLACEMENT PLANS, AND TO IDENTIFY DELINQUENCY CAUSES AND PREVENTION METHODS LOCALLY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROJECT BE CONTINUED UNDER STATE AUSPICES WHEN GRANT FUNDING EXPIRES. AN APPENDIX IS INCLUDED WITH THE EVALUATION REPORT. (LWM)