Source: (2005) Crime & Delinquency. 51(1):26-52.
In 1996, California provided funding to 14 county probation agencies to implement
multiagency, comprehensive services to keep troubled youths from recommitting crime
and progressing farther into the justice system.We report results of a randomized experiment
used to evaluate Ventura County’s 4-year demonstration project called the South
Oxnard Challenge Project (SOCP).We followed youths for more than 2 years after random
assignment to SOCP or routine probation. We found no significant differences
between SOCP and routine juvenile probationers on recidivism or other official-record
outcomes. Although most youths were rearrested, most did not receive a sustained petition
or incarceration. The modest additional services did not affect outcomes.
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