title: The Impact of Two Los Angeles County Teen Courts on Youth Recidivism: Comparing Two Informal Probation Programs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to examine the impact of two Teen Courts operating in Los Angeles County, a juvenile justice system diversion program in which youth are judged by their peers and given restorative sentences to complete during a period of supervision.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental design was used to compare youth who participated in Teen Court (n=112) to youth who participated in another diversion program administered by the Probation Department (the 654 Contract program) (n=194). Administrative data were abstracted from Probation records for all youth who participated in these programs between January 1, 2012 and June 20, 2014. Logistic and survival models were used to examine differences in recidivism - measured as whether the minor had any subsequent arrest or arrests for which the charge was filed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison group participants had higher rates of recidivism than Teen Court participants, after controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and risk level. While the magnitude of the program effects were fairly consistent across model specifications (odd ratios comparing Teen Court [referent] to school-based 654 Contract ranging from 1.95 to 3.07, hazard ratios ranging from 1.62 to 2.27), differences were not statistically significant in all scenarios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While this study provides modest support for the positive impact of Teen Court, additional research is needed to better understand how juvenile diversion programs can improve youth outcomes.
authors.affiliation: TL1 Predoctoral Fellow, University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health; Chief, Health and Policy Assessment, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; 3530 Wilshire Blvd, 8 Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.
authors.forename: Lauren N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Gase
authors.affiliation: Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health; Deputy Director, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; 3530 Wilshire Blvd, 8 Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Research Analyst, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; 3530 Wilshire Blvd, 8 Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90010.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Professor of Public Policy, University of California, Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs; 3250 Public Affairs Building, Box 951656, Los Angeles, CA, 90095.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 10960 Wilshire Blvd, Suite1550, Los Angeles, CA, 90024.
authors.forename: Ninez
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ponce
keywords: diversion; juvenile justice; peer court; teen court; youth court