Mentoring Best Practices Research: Effectiveness of Juvenile Offender Mentoring Programs on Recidivism

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

With the number of mentoring programs for juvenile offenders increasing across the country, a need exists in examining these programs; specifically the role of risk and effective program components. This poster will provide preliminary answers to four key questions: (1) Are mentoring services effective in reducing juvenile re-offending? (2) How is the impact of mentoring on recidivism conditioned by levels of risk for recidivism? (3) Does the impact differ based on youth characteristics (risk level, age, gender, or race) or match quality? (4) Does the type and quality of the mentoring program lead to differing outcomes? In order to answer these questions two sets of analysis will be conducted by using a study of youth on probation and parole across a range of urban and rural counties in Ohio. First, we focus on investigating the relationship between participation in mentoring services and subsequent delinquent and criminal behavior. Second, we focus on the program-level components which include a process evaluation of two mentoring agencies in Ohio using a modified Correctional Program Checklist.

Authors

• Stephanie Duriez, University of Cincinnati

• Carrie Sullivan, University of Cincinnati

• Edward Latessa, University of Cincinnati

• Sarah M. Manchak, University of Cincinnati