NCJ Number
15618
Date Published
1974
Length
35 pages
Annotation
AN ANALYSIS OF 118 YOUTHS WHO HAVE ATTENDED THE CENTER, BASED ON BEHAVIOR CHANGES AFTER PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, SUCH AS DECREASED COURT REFERRALS AND INCREASED EDUCATIONAL LEVELS.
Abstract
PROVIDENCE IS AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER FOR ADJUDICATED MALES FROM THE ST. LOUIS CITY JUVENILE COURT, PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION AND COUNSELING. FAMILY AND PERSONAL BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE YOUTHS, INCLUDING EDUCATION EXPERIENCE AND REFERRAL HISTORY ARE FIRST EXAMINED. EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE WAS ASSESSED BY TEST SCORES, AND SHOWED CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT IN MOST CASES. BY COMPARING COURT REFERRAL RATES BEFORE AND AFTER PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT CRIME PARTICIPATION DECREASED AFTER ENROLLMENT. SPECIFICALLY, 76 PERCENT HAD EITHER NO REFERRALS WHILE AT PROVIDENCE OR A DECREASED REFERRAL RATE COMPARED TO THE YEAR PRIOR TO ENTERING THE PROGRAM. IN OVER HALF THE CASES (66 PERCENT), THE FAMILIES OF THE YOUTHS WERE CONTACTED ON NEARLY A MONTHLY BASIS. ALSO, SUBSEQUENT TO LEAVING PROVIDENCE, THE YOUTHS STUDIED HAD FEWER REFERRALS THAN THEY HAD IN AN EQUAL PERIOD PRIOR TO JOINING PROVIDENCE. SEVERAL TABLES OF RESULTS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)