PROVO AND SILVERLAKE EXPERIMENTS (FROM CORRECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY - SUCCESS MODELS IN CORRECTINAL REFORM, 1977 BY E. EUGENE MILLER AND M. ROBERT MONTILLA - SEE NCJ-42175)

• NCJ Number: 42180
• Author(s): L T EMPEY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 27 pages
• Corporate Author: Reston Publishing Co, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DESCRIBED IN THIS CHAPTER ARE THE PRECISE TREATMENT METHODS, DIFFERENT PROBLEMS TO BE OVERCOME, AND RESULTS OF TWO PROJECTS THAT INVOLVED EXPERIMENTATION WITH GROUP INTERACTION TO TREAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.

Abstract

BEGINNING IN 1959, THE AUTHOR ATTEMPTED TO DEVELOP A A TREATMENT EXPERIMENT FOR JUVENILES IN PROVO, UTAH, THAT EMPLOYED A POSITIVE PEER CULTURE IN SMALL GROUPS OF DELINQUENTS. WITH STAFF GUIDANCE AND PARTICIPATION, THESE GROUPS WERE TO BECOME TREATMENT AGENTS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. ALL BASIC DECISIONS CONCERNING REGULATIONS, DISCIPLINE, TREATMENT, EVEN RELEASE, WERE TO BE MADE BY THE GROUP. IT WAS ALSO INTENDED THAT THE PROJECT WOULD RESULT IN INCREASED COMMUNITY INTERACTION. THE PROJECT WAS DEEMED A SUCCESS, AND THE AUTHOR CONTINUED HIS PROGRAM IN LOS ANGELES (THE SILVERLAKE EXPERIMENT). THE RESEARCH FINDINGS INDICATED THAT EQUAL OR BETTER RESULTS WERE ACHIEVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT DELINQUENTS WERE SPARED THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION. ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT FINDING CONCERNED THE COST SAVINGS REALIZED BY THE EXPERIMENTAL COMMUNITY HOMES AS CONTRASTED WITH TRADITIONAL, COST-INCURRING, LENGTHY TERMS OF INCARCERATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...KAP