NCJ Number
58594
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Dated: (OCTOBER 1971) Pages: 437-445
Date Published
1971
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE EFFECTS OF OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOLS TO DETERMINE WHETHER A PROGRAM OF SEVERE PHYSICAL CHALLENGE IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN TRADITIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL EXPERIENCE IN DELINQUENCY REDUCTION.
Abstract
EFFECTIVENESS WAS MEASURED BY COMPARING THE RECIDIVISM RATES BETWEEN TWO MATCHED GROUPS--60 ADJUDICATED DELINQUENTS ATTENDING THE OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOLS (COLORADO, MAINE, AND MINNESOTA) AND 60 YOUTHS BEING TREATED IN A ROUTINE MANNER BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES. THE OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOLS ARE LOCATED IN ISOLATED AREAS AND PROVIDE COURSES INVOLVING MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, HIGH ALTITUDE CAMPING, ROCK CLIMBING, RAPPELLING, CANOEING, AND TRAINING IN STEAMSHIP AND NAVIGATION AND EMPHASIZE PHYSICAL CONDITIONING, SAFETY, AND TEAM AND TECHNICAL TRAINING. THE RECIDIVISM RATES FOR THE TWO GROUPS WERE COMPARED ONE YEAR AFTER PAROLE. ONLY 20 PERCENT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP RECIDIVATED AS AS OPPOSED TO 42 PERCENT OF THE COMPARISON GROUP. BACKGROUND VARIABLES SUCH AS AGE AT FIRST COURT APPEARANCE, PRESENCE OF BOTH PARENTS IN THE HOME, FIRST INSTITUTIONALIZATION, AND TYPE OF OFFENSE WERE IMPORTANT CONDITIONS AFFECTING RECIDIVISM. THE RESULT SUGGEST THAT FOR SOME DELINQUENTS A PROGRAM SUCH AS OUTWARD BOUND, WHICH PRESENTS A SEVERE PHYSICAL CHALLENGE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGER IS A DESIRABLE ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL CARE AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A MODEL FOR IMPROVING CURRENT CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS. IT APPEARS THAT THOSE DELINQUENTS WHO ARE RESPONDING TO AN ADOLESCENT CRISIS RATHER THAN TO A CHARACTER DEFECT WOULD PROFIT MOST FROM SUCH A PROBLEM. STUDY DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT--DAG)