The Effects of Juvenile Justice Reform on Treatment Program Matching and Reducing Recidivism

• In Event: Studies of State-level Juvenile Justice System Improvement Efforts

Abstract

The past two decades have seen concerted efforts to reduce residential placement of youth. Given the empirical findings that incarceration is associated with greater financial cost and has a null effect on recidivism, many states have reduced the balance of secure placement to community-based sanctions. The state of Ohio has implemented a reinvestment strategy to encourage reduction in confinement and to increase support for community-based alternatives. This has led to a substantial decline in the youth population in residential correctional facilities. While this suggests that the input of the process is as anticipated, the associated effects on youth outcomes must be considered as well. This study examines the effectiveness of such reform at the individual case level, focusing on the match of treatment programs to youth risk/needs and reductions in recidivism—while also accounting for county effects. Using a sample of youths referred to juvenile court and sentenced to different placements (n~918), this study will examine whether the fit between overall risk level, specific needs, and treatment programming has improved as reform efforts have increasingly taken hold. Subsequent effectiveness in reducing reoffending will also be assessed. The results will be discussed in the context of potential primary and secondary impacts of juvenile justice reform initiatives.

Authors

• Insun Park, University of Cincinnati

• Christopher Sullivan, University of Cincinnati