Abstract
Many juvenile correctional institutions have moved toward a punitive, adult-like management model that prioritizes security and control. In recent years, Virginia has reinstituted a rehabilitative approach in its juvenile facilities via the Community Treatment Model, a therapeutic model of youth corrections similar to the Missouri Model that emphasizes relationship building, community and family connections, and group- based treatment and accountability. Despite the tremendous investment involved, evaluations of therapeutic correctional programs are rare. This article reports findings from a mixed-method, mid-implementation assessment of perceived benefits and challenges with Virginia's model. We conducted 18 focus groups and 248 surveys with incarcerated youth and facility staff. Perceived program benefits included regular, structured activities; increased family engagement; and improved staff-youth relationships facilitated by consistent staffing and efforts to build rapport. Participants identified forced interactions; youth resistance to talking- focused activities; insufficient accountability mechanisms; implementation problems; and questions regarding universal applicability as challenges with the new model.
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