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Using administrative data from an urban juvenile probation department between January 2007 and August 2016, the study included youth who were placed on court-ordered postadjudication community supervision and who were deemed to have a moderate risk of reoffending by the department's risk and needs assessment. The two programs evaluated include a vocational support program (VSP) and the Community Connections program (CC). Youth across both groups were matched using propensity score matching, creating a final sample of 301 individual youth per program. When examining the program effect of CC versus VSP across six time-to-event variables (i.e., time to second program, detention, out-of-home placement, another offense, violation of court order, and days in program), the findings were mixed. However, across both programs, analyses revealed youth with a successful discharge and longer time spent in their program had better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the influence of gender, participation in public mental health services, perceived mental health need, and traumatic experiences on juvenile justice system processing. Data were collected on youth formally processed for delinquency or status offenses by a large statewide juvenile justice system and youth served by the state's public mental health system during a 7-year period (n = 271,427). The results indicated that accessing mental health services in the community or being viewed as having a mental health need by a juvenile probation officer increased the likelihood of youth being removed from their home by the juvenile justice system, especially for girls. While girls generally had decreased odds of out-of-home placement compared to boys, their odds significantly increased when combined with involvement in public mental health services and/or receiving a violation of probation. Once placed out of the home, boys discharged much more quickly than girls, with the rate of discharge being related primarily to the severity of their offenses. When controlling for relevant variables using propensity score matching, girls who experienced trauma or involvement with the public mental health system had a significantly lower rate of discharge from out-of-home placement than similarly matched boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of gender and history of trauma exposure on the length of time juvenile offenders served in post-adjudicatory placements. Data were drawn from a database that included information on all juvenile referrals from three large urban counties in Texas during a 2-year period. The study sample included all juveniles (N = 5,019) placed in local non-secure and county-operated secure facilities. Findings indicate that female juveniles served significantly longer periods of confinement in local facilities than boys, even when controlling for other influential variables such as offense severity, prior record, age at referral, and facility type. Findings also indicate that girls with histories of trauma served longer periods in confinement than boys for violating their court-ordered conditions of probation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Institute of Corrections urges use of motivational interviewing (MI) techniques by its workforce, and it is incumbent on criminal justice organizations to find effective methods of personnel training in this evidence-based practice. The current study evaluates impact of a 2-day, advanced MI workshop on personnel skills. Utilizing a validated skill instrument, four cohorts of juvenile justice personnel (aggregate N = 87) completed skill assessments at the outset and conclusion of an advanced MI workshop. Results indicated robust and reliable skill improvements across cohorts and skill domains, with nearly 80% of trainees attaining a proficiency criterion upon leaving the workshop. Furthermore, individual personnel with lesser reported education evidenced both lesser preworkshop skill and greater skill improvement such that postworkshop skills approximated more educated peers. Study findings reinforced the value of the professional training workshop as a practical and effective means of preparing personnel for monitored implementation of MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]