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Diverting multi‐problem youth from juvenile justice: investigating the importance of community influence on placement and recidivism
Author(s) -
Hamilton Zachary K.,
Sullivan Christopher J.,
Veysey Bonita M.,
Grillo Michele
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.720
Subject(s) - recidivism , mental health , economic justice , juvenile delinquency , juvenile , psychology , substance abuse , program evaluation , suicide prevention , poison control , psychiatry , medicine , environmental health , political science , public administration , biology , law , genetics
In the U.S., diversion has increasingly become one of the most utilized alternatives to detention of delinquent youth. Programs providing diversion can vary greatly. Variations in program design make it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of program outcomes. Utilizing hierarchical linear modeling, this study examines variations in outcome for ten program sites of the New York State MH/JJ Diversion Project. Program and youth predictors were evaluated on two outcomes: out‐of‐ community placement and recidivism. At the individual level, significant mental health and substance abuse problems, age, prior placements, and use of wraparound funds were predictive of youth placements, while significant substance abuse problems were predictive of recidivism. Program variations were found to have a significant impact on youth outcomes. Specifically, sites providing direct (or “in house”) care had significantly reduced rates of placement. Study results and implications for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.