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Delinquency prevention: An example of consultation in rural community mental health
Author(s) -
Tolan Patrick H.,
Perry M. Shelley,
Jones Theodore
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6629(198701)15:1<43::aid-jcop2290150107>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - recidivism , juvenile delinquency , mental health , cohort , juvenile court , psychology , work (physics) , rural community , criminology , medical education , medicine , psychiatry , sociology , socioeconomics , engineering , mechanical engineering
This article describes the development and operation of a secondary prevention program designed to reduce recidivism in a rural community. Rural communities present unique aspects such as geographic isolation, cultural values divergent from those of urban society, and limited professional resources that impact upon consultation and program development and that must be considered if implemented programs are to be utilized. Parameters of work in rural areas are described and discussed. Fifty‐five first offender participants in a community program that was developed through consultation to a rural juvenile court are compared with 177 cohort control subjects who appeared before the court prior to implementation of the program. Program participants had a recidivism rate one‐fourth that of the cohort. Results are attributed to change in the court's approach to its task of dealing with juvenile delinquency in the community.