title: A multiyear follow-up study examining the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral group therapy program on the recidivism of juveniles on probation.
abstract: The present study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral group therapy program titled Community Opportunity Growth. This study monitored juvenile delinquents' recidivism across a 7-year time period, with the average length to follow-up being 39 months. It was hypothesized that program graduates (N = 178) would have a significantly lower recidivism rate than a control group (program nonstarters; N = 66) and program dropouts (whose predisposing factors may have influenced their program participation; N = 150). Analyses controlled for sex, ethnicity, age, prior petitions, highest class of prior petition, and months to follow-up. Results show a general trend indicating the long-term effectiveness of the program as graduates had a lower incidence of petitions at follow-up compared with dropouts and fewer petitions compared with the other two groups.
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA jejewel@siue.edu.
authors.forename: Jeremy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jewell
authors.affiliation: Madison County Probation and Court Services, Edwardsville, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sturgeon
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owens
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008297:Male
keywords: cognitive behavioral therapy; group psychotherapy; juvenile delinquency; recidivism; treatment effectiveness