Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center
Problems addressed
Recidivism
Violent crimes
Crime and delinquency (multiple types)
Juvenile delinquency
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Where the program was applied
Prisons or socio-educational residential centers
Country of application
United States
Description

This is an intensive treatment program for adolescents aged 13 to 17 with disruptive disorders and aggressive behavior who live in juvenile correctional institutions.
The program applies multicomponent interventions, such as:
1) Structured incentive system, whereby participants earn points for positive behavior (Hoy-Mañana Program);
2) Continuous evaluation of results;
3) Medication management;
4) Brief family therapy; and
5) Family reintegration services.

Impact evaluations

Impact evaluation studies have shown that participants in the treatment group were less likely to reoffend in violent crimes and had a longer period without being involved in offenses in the community before committing a violent crime when compared to the control group, which did not receive the intervention. No effect was observed on recidivism into crime in general or reversals [1] [2].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Caldwell, M. F. & van Rybroek, G. J. (2005). Reducing violence in serious juvenile offenders using intensive treatment. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 28(6), 622–636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2004.07.001

[2] Caldwell, M., Skeem, J., Salekin, R. & van Rybroek, G. (2006). Treatment Response of Adolescent Offenders With Psychopathy Features. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 33(5), 571–596. https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854806288176

Information source