Understanding Needs and Outcomes of Substance Abuse Treatment for Juvenile Offenders

Understanding Needs and Outcomes of Substance Abuse Treatment for Juvenile Offenders

PI: Patricia Ebener

Co-PI: Suzanne Wenzel

Funded by: National Institute of Justice, Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program

Although young drug offenders often receive sentences that include treatment, judges, prosecutors, and probation officers in the juvenile justice system have little empirical evidence on the effectiveness of programs intended to serve young people with drug problems, or on the best way to match abusers with treatment options. RAND and Phoenix House are helping to fill this need for information by examining what kinds of offenders benefit from what kinds of services; how long and how well offenders engage in different programs; what outcomes should be expected, given the differences in adolescents, services, and costs; and how those outcomes can be measured. This study will help Phoenix House understand and improve its clients' responses to treatment and demonstrate program effectiveness to the various players in the criminal justice system. The results will also provide a model that other treatment providers can adapt to their needs.