NCJ Number
176898
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 61 Issue: 1 Dated: February 1999 Pages: 64-67
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the Young Offender Treatment Program (YOTP) at the Glen Parva correctional facility in England.
Abstract
Glen Parva is a large young offender facility in central England that houses approximately 800 male offenders between 15 and 21 years old. Approximately half of these inmates are on remand awaiting sentence (15 to 21 years old), and the remaining half have been convicted of their crimes (18 to 21 years old) and are serving sentences of up to 4 years. Glen Parva holds juveniles while they are on remand; however, once they are convicted, they are transferred to a nearby facility. YOTP was developed out of the recognition that a program is needed to address the criminogenic needs of acquisitive offenders, such as impulsivity, low levels of socio-moral reasoning, substance use, and poor problem-solving skills. Further, there was a need for a style of delivery that young offenders would find interesting and engaging. Also, it should have flexibility in administration to take into account accreditation criteria and varying custody lengths. One YOTP module focuses on the main components of motivational interviewing, which include facilitating problem recognition, highlighting ambivalence, evoking feelings of dissonance, building commitment to change, and increasing self- efficacy for change. Other modules pertain to impulse control, quality of life, living with others, substance use, and relapse prevention. The first five modules have been piloted at Glen Parva, and preliminary evaluations indicate significant positive changes for self-report measures of confidence and attitude. In addition, the substance-use module has been introduced to six young offender facilities; the results show a positive change. 31 references