The Case for Differential Treatment of Delinquents

Abstract

Based on the assumption that the same treat ment program which is beneficial to some types of offenders may be detrimental to other types, a series of experimental programs for delinquents have developed around a theory of the differential use of program elements. The question asked has been: What kinds of treatment programs conducted by what kinds of workers in what kinds of settings are best for what kinds of youthful offenders? In approaching these in vestigations, several classification schemata—categorizing of fenders, treaters, environments, and treatment methods—have been developed. Attempts have then been made to study the "matching" of workers, settings, and methods with types of delinquents. These studies have produced a number of find ings : Offenders can be reliably classified in treatment-relevant ways. A large proportion of youthful offenders can be suc cessfully treated in community-based programs rather than institutions; however, incarceration leads to higher success rates with one type of delinquent. Grouping of offenders into homogeneous living units by subtype leads to a significant decrease in institution-management problems. Offenders who are well matched with their treaters have much higher success rates than those who are not well matched. Impact of these studies on correctional programs in California is great, both at state and county levels. Interest in these concepts has led to the establishment of the Center for Training in Differential Treatment.