This is a great introduction about how to effectively reduce youthful offender recidivism.
Topics discussed include:
- the meaning of evidence based practice (EBP);
- five things EBP requires;
- what research tells us;
- principles for effective interventions-risk (who), need (what), treatment (how), and fidelity (how well);
- risk principle-"Risk refers to the risk of reoffending not the seriousness of the offense", target higher risk youth, provide most intensive interventions to higher risk youth, and providing intensive treatment for low risk youth will often increase their recidivism;
- risk and need factors;
- the necessity for assessments--Youthful Level of Service/Case Management Inventory, Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI), and the Ohio Youth Assessment System (OYAS);
- dynamic and static factors;
- treatment principle-most effective are behavioral models (i.e., structured social learning, family-based intervention, and cognitive intervention);
- ineffective approaches with youthful offenders;
- fidelity principle-ensuring the program is implemented as it was designed;
- a new model of probation officer (PO) and offender interaction--Effective Practices in Correctional Supervision (EPICS);
- and some lessons learned from research.