Study 1
Recidivism
Overall, after controlling for group differences and predictors of recidivism, Winokur Early and colleagues (2010) found the AMIkids community-based day treatment sample was significantly less likely to be adjudicated or convicted for an offense within 12 months of release (38 percent day treatment recidivism rate versus 43 percent residential recidivism rate). Youths who received AMIkids day treatment services were significantly less likely to be rearrested (54 percent versus 59 percent), rearrested for a felony offense (30 percent versus 42 percent), convicted for a felony offense (18 percent versus 27 percent) and subsequently committed, placed on adult probation, or sentenced to prison (23 percent versus 29 percent) compared with youths who completed residential programming.
Study 1
The evaluation by Winokur Early and colleagues (2010) used a quasi-experimental design to compare recidivism outcomes for male and female juvenile offenders who completed AMIkids’ community-based day treatment program during fiscal year 2007–08 to a matched sample of youths who completed secure residential programming during the same time period.
Youths completing AMIkids day treatment programs were compared with a matched sample of youths completing low-, moderate-, and high-restrictiveness-level residential programs. A completion of secure residential programming is defined as any youth designated in Florida’s Juvenile Justice Information System (JJIS) having successfully completed the program, having been assigned to probation following release, having been directly discharged without subsequent supervision, and/or having reached the maximum juvenile jurisdictional age or term served and then being released back to the community. Restrictiveness level refers to the physical and staff security level of the facility, and not to the risk of reoffending. However, youths were matched by risk level, as measured by the PACT that is used by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (FDJJ) to assess criminogenic risks and needs. A propensity score matching protocol was used to statistically control for inherent differences between the groups. The propensity score was calculated as the probability of a given youth completing AMIkids day treatment services versus residential commitment using the probabilities produced by a logistic regression model. Youths with the same propensity score were matched and divided into two groups: those who did and did not receive AMIkids community-based interventions.
Youths who received AMIkids day treatment services (n=1,083) were 80 percent male, 51 percent African American, and 14 percent Hispanic, with an average age of 16.2 years at admission. Youths who completed residential programming (n=1,083) were 81 percent male, 53 percent African American, and 15 percent Hispanic, with an average age of 15.8 years at admission. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups except on two factors: youths who received residential programming were younger at release and had a longer average length of stay, compared with youths who received AMIkids day treatment services.
Measures of recidivism and standard follow-up periods are based on those used by FDJJ in their annual outcome evaluations of juvenile justice programming in the state. Recidivism, defined by FDJJ, is any subsequent offense that results in adjudication, adjudication withheld, or adult conviction within 1 year of release. The analysis in the study also examined alternate youth outcome measures including felony adjudication or conviction, arrest and felony arrest, and subsequent placements into commitment, adult probation, or prison within 1 year of program completion. Data was compiled from the JJIS, the Florida Criminal Information Center, the Florida Department of Corrections, the FDJJ Office of Management and Budget, and the FDJJ Bureau of Quality Assurance. Independent sample t–tests were used to test for significant differences in the outcomes between the groups for each analysis.
The relative expenses of AMIkids day treatment and residential services were estimated using the standard FDJJ method for calculating program costs. According to the 2009 FDJJ Comprehensive Accountability Report, it costs on average $40,235 for every juvenile offender who completes low-, moderate-, and high-risk residential programming. In comparison, AMIkids day treatment services cost approximately $9,356 for each youth who successfully completes the program. The difference in expense between the day treatment and residential programming is $30,879 for each youth receiving services. The cost comparison shows that the State of Florida saves more than $3 million for every 100 youths who complete AMIkids day treatment services (versus residential programming) each year (Winokur Early et al. 2010).
Following are CrimeSolutions.gov-rated practices that are related to this program:
Formal System Processing for JuvenilesThe practice of using traditional juvenile justice system processing in lieu of alternative sanctions to deal with juvenile criminal cases. The practice is rated No Effects for reducing recidivism compared to the youth that were diverted from the system.
Evidence Ratings for Outcomes: | Crime & Delinquency - Multiple crime/offense types |
Juvenile Diversion ProgramsAn intervention strategy that redirects youths away from formal processing in the juvenile justice system, while still holding them accountable for their actions. The practice is rated Promising for reducing recidivism rates of juveniles who participated in diversion programming compared with juveniles who were formally processed in the justice system.
Evidence Ratings for Outcomes: | Crime & Delinquency - Multiple crime/offense types |