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Evaluation of the Juvenile Breaking the Cycle Program

NCJ Number
209799
Date Published
November 2004
Length
95 pages
Annotation
This report presents evaluation findings from Lane County, Oregon’s Juvenile Breaking the Cycle (JBTC) program.
Abstract

In 1998, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) awarded a grant to the Lane County, OR, Department of Youth Services (DYS) to implement a demonstration JBTC program. The program was subsequently evaluated in 1999; this report presents the findings of that evaluation. The Lane County JBTC program includes four main components: (1) identification of substance abuse problems at time of arrest; (2) assessment of substance abuse problems as well as other psychological or criminogenic risk factors; (3) integrated delivery of services; and (4) systematic use of sanctions, incentives, and rewards to encourage treatment compliance. The goals of the JBTC program are to effect system changes which will lead to more effective coordination and integration of services, thereby enhancing service delivery and service success. The JBTC program evaluation involved a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent comparison group. Outcome measures were analyzed for a sample of 306 youth who were assessed by the DYS between April 2000 and November 2001; 149 of these youths were enrolled in the JBTC program. Outcome measures indicated that JBTC participants, in comparison to control subjects, had increased access to substance abuse treatment, showed reductions in marijuana use, and were less likely to be arrested during the second of two 6-month follow-ups. School and family outcomes may also have been improved as a result of the program but alcohol use and drug use other than marijuana were not impacted. Overall, evaluation results suggested general program success and the continued operation of the JBTC program is indicated. Exhibits, appendixes

Date Published: November 1, 2004