Friday, 14 January 2005 - 4:00 PM

This presentation is part of: Qualitative Research on Client Experiences of Treatment

Listening to Juvenile Offenders: Can Residential Treatment Prevent Recidivism?

Purpose: This paper explores clients’ perspectives on their treatment in two different residential correctional facilities for juvenile male offenders. Although a wealth of literature documents poor treatment outcomes for this population including high recidivism rates, little is known about how repeat and violent youth offenders experience the treatment offered to them in secure confinement. Insider knowledge derived from a qualitative standpoint can help to determine the most effective and relevant strategies for the rehabilitation of high-risk youth offenders.

Method: The author spent three years conducting ethnographic observations in two different correctional facilities for juvenile male offenders in Minnesota (“Wildwood House” and “Cottage Grove”). The author also conducted a series of 4-6 interviews with 19 young men who were selected by convenience (12 at Wildwood House and 7 at Cottage Grove). The interview sample was diverse in regard to ethnicity, age, and type of offense. Among other topics, the interviews sought to gather clients’ perspectives on their therapeutic treatment programs. Field notes and interview data were analyzed using a variety of thematic coding techniques and QSR NUDIST software.

Results: Observations revealed that the two programs had unique institutional and therapeutic cultures. Wildwood house was only semi-secure and had a strong therapeutic focus on underlying family issues. Cottage Grove had a rigid rule structure and a therapeutic program that sought to change individual thought and crime patterns. Nearly all of the clients at Wildwood reported trying to fake their change or invent their “family problems” for some period of time in the course of their treatment. Some of the residents eventually bought into the therapy programs although most remained reluctant to accept their need for therapy or a secure placement. Cottage Grove clients reported feeling fairly perplexed by the program, its stringent requirements, and the cognitive therapy assignments. In this environment with high surveillance and lengthy program time, clients viewed staff as ‘rule arbitrators’ rather than therapeutic allies.

Very few offenders who participated in either program exited either program with concrete plans or strategies to desist from crime. Many reported feeling a lack of confidence based on the inability to practice new skills or therapeutic tools in “real-world” environments. Offenders at both sites commented that the most beneficial program components were the opportunities to advance in school and to have time to “sit and think” about their lives.

Implications: This study provides multiple insights concerning treatment of this population group that has consistently had very high recidivism rates. Practitioners should be wary of relying too heavily on adult-oriented psychotherapeutic language in their work with youth offenders. Moreover, social workers should offer offenders opportunities for hands on skills training and “real-world” applications of new skills. Finally, it is significant that the opportunity to achieve in school was so highly favored by the youth. Social workers can maximize the use of program time with a balance of group, individual, and one-on-one activities that both stimulate thinking about life directions but also allow offenders to feel a sense of success and accomplishment.

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