Reintegrating High-Risk Juvenile Offenders into Communities: Experiences and Prospects.

Source: (2001) Corrections Management Quarterly 5(3)

This article described the Intensive Aftercare Program (IAP) model, its components and implementation options, and what some of the next steps might be. The IAP was explicitly designed to address two acknowledged deficiencies of institutional corrections systems: (1) institutional confinement does not adequately prepare youth for return to the community where at least part of the problem has its origins and continues to reside, and (2) lessons and skills learned in confinement are not systematically monitored or reinforced on the “outside.â€? Five principles underline the IAP model and establish the fundamental reintegrative mission from which the elements, components, and services emerge: (1) preparing juveniles for progressively increased responsibility and freedom in the community; (2) facilitating juvenile-community interactions and involvement; (3) working with juvenile offenders and community support systems on qualities needed for constructive interaction and successful community adjustment; (4) developing new resources and supports where needed; and (5) monitoring and testing the juveniles and community on their ability to handle each other productively. The targeted population is those juveniles who pose the highest risk of becoming repeat offenders. An overarching case management element was the core of the IAP model which included five program components that established the process used to identify the appropriate offenders. Implementing the IAP model requires alliances and partnership among departments, agencies, and organizational interests not ordinarily accustomed to working with one another.