The Impact of Arbitration Intervention Services on Youth Recidivism

Abstract

We report the impact of case management services and youth psychopathic features on twelve-month recidivism rates for youths involved in a Center for Substance Abuse Treatment funded clinical trial conducted in a juvenile diversion program. The project is evaluating an innovative intervention service providing 16 weeks of intensive case management services to youths and their families. The present study examines baseline interview data and official arrest/charge records for a twelve-month period following program or intervention completion, whichever came later, for 164 youths who entered a diversion program (Juvenile Arbitration) between June 2002 and July 2003 and agreed to participate in the project. The results indicate that youths receiving case management services did not have lower rates of recidivism during the 12-month follow-up period, than youths receiving the usual Arbitration services. Regardless of service group assignment, psychopathy measures for these youths were significantly and positively associated with recidivism rates during the 12-month follow-up period. Implications for policy and intervention service needs are discussed.