NCJ Number
92987
Date Published
1982
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This report describes and evaluates the Theatre Connection, an employment and training program operated by the Quincy, Mass. Court for high-risk youthful offenders that allowed them to earn restitution and learn marketable skills by building sets, producing posters, and making costumes for local theater groups.
Abstract
With an arts grant from the Massachusetts Department of Manpower Development and additional funds from the Youth Conservation and Community Improvement Project awarded through the local CETA office, the Theatre Connection designed a l2-month program for 35 youths to teach them the discipline of work and marketable skills used in creating theater production elements as well as provide GED instruction and career counseling. The program rented an unused school building and accepted only maximum risk offenders, most of whom were CETA eligible and many of whom owed restitution. The staff consisted of a director, a work supervisor, and three theater arts instructors. The project obtained work by inviting 30 local theater groups to a presentation held in the court's largest courtroom. The school facility was divided into three work areas for set, graphics, and costume production. Participants were required to attend GEU, reading, and math classes and were expelled from the program for fighting, drug and alcohol abuse, or continual tardiness and absenteeism. While the program experienced problems in maintaining discipline and had a higher than expected turnover, it did complete all theater projects on time. Moreover, recidivism ratses for high-risk youthful probationers were substantially lower than the statewide average; approximately $24,549 was paid back to crime victims as a direct result of the Theatre Connection; and participants performed 888 hours of unpaid community service. Criminal justice officials noted that the Theatre Connection provided many offenders with a good opportunity to turn themselves around. The report includes suggestions for replicating the program, photographs, and newspaper articles.