TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effectiveness of Aftercare for Juvenile and Young Adult Offenders
AU - James, Chrissy
AU - Asscher, Jessica J.
AU - Stams, Geert Jan J M
AU - Van Der Laan, Peter H.
PY - 2016/8/1
Y1 - 2016/8/1
N2 - This study examined the New Perspectives Aftercare Program (NPAP) for serious juvenile and young adult offenders in The Netherlands. Participants (n = 127) were randomly assigned to NPAP (n = 66) or existing aftercare services ("treatment as usual" [TAU], n = 61). The aim was to determine whether NPAP was effective in decreasing cognitive distortions and criminal thinking patterns and increasing prosocial skills of the juveniles compared with TAU. No direct intervention effects were found on any of the outcome measures. Moderator analyses, however, showed several interaction effects of ethnicity and coping skills for both NPAP and TAU youths. Furthermore, NPAP dropouts displayed significantly more indirect aggression at posttest compared with youths dropping out from TAU. Possible explanations for the mostly null effects are discussed, including implications for further research, policy, and practice.
AB - This study examined the New Perspectives Aftercare Program (NPAP) for serious juvenile and young adult offenders in The Netherlands. Participants (n = 127) were randomly assigned to NPAP (n = 66) or existing aftercare services ("treatment as usual" [TAU], n = 61). The aim was to determine whether NPAP was effective in decreasing cognitive distortions and criminal thinking patterns and increasing prosocial skills of the juveniles compared with TAU. No direct intervention effects were found on any of the outcome measures. Moderator analyses, however, showed several interaction effects of ethnicity and coping skills for both NPAP and TAU youths. Furthermore, NPAP dropouts displayed significantly more indirect aggression at posttest compared with youths dropping out from TAU. Possible explanations for the mostly null effects are discussed, including implications for further research, policy, and practice.
KW - aftercare
KW - effectiveness
KW - intervention
KW - juvenile and young adult offenders
KW - RCT
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84976293660&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84976293660&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0306624X15576884
DO - 10.1177/0306624X15576884
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84976293660
SN - 0306-624X
VL - 60
SP - 1159
EP - 1184
JO - International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
JF - International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
IS - 10
ER -