title: Evaluating the effectiveness of a special needs diversionary program in reducing reoffending among mentally ill youthful offenders.
abstract: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mental health intervention for youthful offenders, specifically the Special Needs Diversionary Program (SNDP) by comparing the treatment group with the control group. The sample consisted of 328 mentally ill youths: 168 youths participated in the SNDP and 160 youths in other court-ordered programs. To examine the empirical relationships among the covariates, the current study uses a two-step approach: (a) logistic regression; and (b) Cox Proportional-Hazards Regression. The findings reveal that participation in the SNDP was strongly associated with reduced recidivism compared with nonparticipation in the SNDP among mentally ill youthful offenders throughout the 12-month follow-up. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Arlington, TX, USA sjjeong@uta.edu.
authors.forename: Seokjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
authors.forename: Byung Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Tarrant County Juvenile Services, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Julie H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019090:Case Management; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012008:Recurrence; D013781:Texas
keywords: SNDP; mental illness; recidivism