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Use of Juvenile Probation Urinalysis Programs as a Deterrent

NCJ Number
136665
Journal
Journal of Offender Monitoring Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1992) Pages: 3-4,6,24
Author(s)
J M Signorino; W D Brenner
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Juvenile Probation Department of Erie County (Pa.) established a modified urinalysis program in March 1987 to detect drug abuse among juvenile probationers and thus to break down denial and facilitate confrontation, accountability, and rehabilitation.
Abstract
The program aimed to overcome three problems in the existing program: the reporting of false negatives, the slow turnaround time to receive drug test results, and the numerous links in the chain of custody. Statistics from 1990 showed a 51.6 percent decline in positive tests for cannabinoid and a 62.4 percent reduction in overall positive results. The results indicated that the testing, coupled with the sanctions and accountability functions imposed on juvenile offenders, has served as a deterrent to substance abuse. Tables