Study 1
In a randomized controlled trial, Greenwood, Deschenes, and Adams (1993a) evaluated the impact of the Skillman Intensive Aftercare Program on postrelease recidivism outcomes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Staff in the residential program identified eligible youths and provided their names to the researchers who then randomly assigned them to either the treatment group (n = 46) or control group (n = 40). Pittsburgh youths in the treatment group were released from their residential placements 2 months early and received the program for 6 months, while youths in the control group were not released early and continued their current residential program. Additionally, 1 month before their planned release date, youths were transferred to a transitional group home. Pittsburgh program staff were allowed to return youths to the group home or correctional facility as a sanction for problematic behavior.
The Pittsburgh treatment group was 86 percent African American, 13 percent white, and 2 percent other race/ethnicity. The average age at their placement was 16.5 years. The Pittsburgh control group was 78 percent African American, 18 percent white, and 5 percent other race/ethnicity. The average age at their placement was 16.5 years. The study provided demographic and criminal history characteristics for each group, but did not report whether any differences were statistically significant.
Follow-up information on arrests and convictions was obtained from juvenile and adult probation records in Pittsburgh. Bivariate analyses were conducted to measure both official recidivism (rate of re-arrest and reconviction) as well as self-reported delinquency 1 year after release.
Study 2
In the same randomized controlled trial, Greenwood, Deschenes, and Adams (1993b) also evaluated the impact of the Skillman Intensive Aftercare Program on postrelease recidivism outcomes in Detroit, Michigan. As staff in the residential program identified eligible youth, they provided the names of these youths to the researchers, who randomly assigned each to either the treatment group (n = 50) or control group (n = 47). Youths assigned to the experimental program were supposed to be released from their residential placement 2 months early and to receive the intensive aftercare supervision for the next 6 months; however, the Detroit youths did not have any time cut from their residential term. The treatment group received the program for 6 months, while the control group received the regular form of postrelease supervision used in their community.
The Detroit treatment group was 90 percent African American, 8 percent white, and 2 percent other race/ethnicity. The average age at their placement was 16 years. The Detroit control group was 87 percent African American and 13 percent white. The average age at their placement was also 16 years. The study provided demographic and criminal history characteristics for each group, but did not report whether any differences were statistically significant.
Follow-up information on arrests and convictions was obtained from The Department of Social Services and Adult Recorders’ Court records in Wayne County (Michigan). Bivariate analyses were conducted to measure both official recidivism (rate of re-arrest and reconviction) as well as self-reported delinquency 1 year after release.