The present study examined the effects of group home staffing variables on the proportion of successful program completions by adjudicated juvenile delinquents. A survey questionnaire was sent to most small group homes serving this population in California. Respondents became the 114 participants. There were no significant relationships between the staff/resident ratios and successful completion, between the inconsistency measure and successful completion, or between staffing pattern type and successful completion. Homes that employed live-in part-time family counselors had the highest staff/resident ratios. Homes that employed family counselors working in shifts had the highest staffing inconsistency.

The basic purpose of this study was to investigate if placement in a cottage designated solely for juveniles involved in vocational training significantly improved the institutional adjustment and recidivism rate of institutionalized male juvenile delinquents. An additional purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of an involvement in a vocational training program on institutional and post release adjustment of institutionalized juvenile delinquents. Statistical analysis of the data supported the basic hypothesis that subjects who were involved in the vocational training, regardless of cottage placement, would adjust better to the institution. The two groups of vocational subjects had fewer admissions to the Discipline Cottage and a greater frequency of achievement of privilege-level status than did the group of subjects who did not receive vocational training. The hypothesis that vocational subjects who were housed in a separate cottage would adjust better to the institution than would the vocational subjects who were housed in the regular cottages was also supported. The vocational subjects who were housed separately had fewer escapes, fewer admissions to the Discipline Cottage, and a greater frequency of attainment of privilege-level status than either of the other two groups. The analysis also supported the hypothesis that recidivism rates would not be differentially affected by an involvement in the vocational program, regardless of the cottage placement.

The present investigation was designed to increase the moral judgment and simultaneous role-taking skills of institutionalized male juvenile delinquents and investigated possible effects of affect on the subjects' responses to treatment.

No description available.

This study found that the adjudicated juvenile offender population may have insight into barriers and obstacles that will impede their reintegration into society. If these issues were recognized and addressed, juvenile offenders could have a better experience as parolees when they were released.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Juvenile offenders have certain characteristics, which separate them from the law abiding young people. These characteristics, together with the subcultures inside prison in which they become socialized, can cause dysfunctional development, which in turn can lead to recidivism. To approach this client system and plan intervention according to the ecological perspective, the social worker needs to be equipped with a certain knowledge base. Firstly, knowledge is necessary about the profile of the juvenile offender. Secondly, the social worker has to understand the impact that a prison environment can have on the juvenile. Thirdly, it is also important that the worker knows how these factors can influence the intervention process and also be aware of different methods to strengthen the social functioning of the juvenile in pnson. This study endeavours to create a scientifically based framework for the development of a strategy for intervention with the juvenile offender, in order to bring about appropriate social functioning and by doing this, reduce recidivism. The research includes aspects of all three the recognized types of research, namely: exploratory, descriptive and explanatory. The profile of the juvenile offender, as well as ways in which the prison environment impacts on his development was determined by means of interviews and described in terms of the effect it might have on the intervention process. The respondents consisted of 11 ex juvenile offenders. Conclusions and recommendations were made which focussed, amongst others, on the various phases in the group work process and the development of knowledge regarding the juvenile offender. This research report can be utilized by social workers for effective intervention with juvenile offenders in prison. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Jeugoortreders het sekere karaktereienskappe wat hul van wetsgehoorsame jeugdiges onderskei. Hierdie karaktertrekke, tesame met die gevangeniskultuur waarbinne hul gesosialiseer word, veroorsaak disfunksionele ontwikkeling wat weer na residivisme kan lei. Om volgens 'n ekologiese perspektief intervensie met hierdie kliëntsisteem te benader, is dit eerstens noodsaaklik dat die maatskaplike werker die profiel van die jeugmisdadiger ken. Tweedens is dit nodig dat die werker die impak van die gevangenisomgewing op die jeugdige verstaan. Derdens is dit belangrik dat die werker weet hoe hierdie faktore op die hulpverleningsproses kan impakteer en ook bewus moet wees van verskeie metodes om die jeugdige in die gevangenis se maatskaplike funksionering te beïnvloed. Hierdie studie bevat kenmerke van al drie die erkende navorsingsdoelstellings, naamlik verkenning, beskrywing en verklaring. Die ondersoek het ten doel om 'n wetenskaplik gefundeerde raamwerk daar te stel vir die ontwikkeling van 'n intervensiestrategie ten opsigte van jeugmisdadigers in die gevangenis, ten einde funksionele maatskaplike funksionering mee te bring en sodoende residivisme te verminder. Die profiel van die jeugmisdadiger en die impak van die omgewing op sy ontwikkeling is deur middel van onderhoude bepaal en beskryf in terme van die invloed wat dit op die intervensieproses kan hê. Respondente in die navorsing het uit elf vrygelate jeugmisdadigers bestaan. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings is gemaak wat onder andere gefokus het op die verskeie fases in die groepwerkproses en ontwikkeling van kennis oor die betrokke kliëntsisteem. Hierdie navorsingsverslag sal deur maatskaplike werkers benut kan word vir effektiewe hulpverlening aan jeugdiges in die gevangenis.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

No description available.

An analysis of the effects of resocialization programming on juvenile offender resiliency levels was conducted with 220 juveniles committed to a maximum security facility. Data were examined on the subjects' age, race/ethnicity, length of time at the facility, level of resocialization, and resiliency score. The resocialization programming contains cognitive and social components that would be instrumental in augmenting juvenile offender resiliency levels. Analysis of the variables did not show a significant increase in juvenile offender resiliency levels. The results did display that students who were at the facility longer and who were in the older age groups had higher levels of resocialization.

With the advent of increased juvenile delinquency in our nation, the need for prevention and rehabilitation is paramount. Juvenile delinquent acts are becoming more serious and violent with offenders perpetrating at younger ages. Analysis suggests an increase in juvenile crime in the near future (Stone, 2000). Pinpointing the cause of delinquency is an arduous task because of the many contributing factors (e.g., impulsivity, aggression, low intellect, poor family attachment, drug, and alcohol abuse). By changing the emotional deficits found in beginning delinquency, the likelihood of developing delinquent behavior may be impeded. Research indicates that adolescents who commit crimes are lacking in empathy (e.g., Aleksic, 1975; Cohen & Strayer, 1996; Ellis, 1982; Gibbs, 1987; Marcus & Gray, 1998), thus, promoting empathy may be an avenue for prevention and rehabilitation. This study examined the levels of empathy of adjudicated youth in four juvenile correctional facilities in Texas. Using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), empathy levels of 170 youth were examined. Youth in the study demonstrated low levels of empathy. The study found that empathy levels of adjudicated youth were differentiated by incarcerating facility, IQ, type of offense, disability status, and phase level of a re-socialization training program. Age was not found to be a significant factor for differentiating empathy levels. Youth demonstrated similiar empathy levels at three of the four incarcerating facilities. However, empathy scores were still below average. IQ ranges were differentiated by the IRI, and found to be lower than normed scores. Type of committing offense was discriminated and found to indicate low empathy levels. Youth without an identified disability scored lower than subjects with emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD) and youth with learning disabilities (LD). This may reflect the pattern of underidentification of juveniles in correctional facilities (Nelson, Rutherford, & Wolford, 1987). Phases of Re-socialization is an instructional therapuetic program with an empathy component used at the Texas Youth Commission correctional facilities. Data from the study indicated that youth at higher phase levels demonstrated increased empathy. Much of the data are inconsistent, thus establishing the need for further research. A deeper understanding of the impact of each factor (e.g., incarcerating facility, age, IQ, type of offense, disability status, phase) may be accomplished by further research. However, data from this study is consistent with previous research (e.g., Daberman, 1999; Ellis, 1982; Gibbs, 1987; Lee & Prentice, 1988), indicating a link between juvenile delinquents and empathic deficits.