Study 1
Labrecque, Schweitzer, and Mattick (2018) conducted a quasi-experimental study to determine whether Targeted RECLAIM had an effect on juvenile recidivism. Participants were considered eligible if they were between the ages of 12 and 21 and were brought before the juvenile justice system in Ohio. The treatment group (n = 730) were youths who participated in a Targeted RECLAIM service during 2012. The control group (n = 698) were youths who were released from Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) custody in the same period and did not participate in any Targeted RECLAIM services. The control group was matched to the treatment group in gender, race, age, and risk level of reoffending.
Most the sample (87.3 percent of the treatment group and 92.4 percent of the control group) were male. Of the treatment group, 32.1 percent were white, compared with 36.9 percent of the control group. For the remaining 67.9 percent of the treatment group and 63.1 percent of the control group, race/ethnicity information was not provided. Both groups consisted of youths who were at low-, moderate-, and high-risk level of reoffending. In the treatment group, 26.6 percent were at low risk, 44.1 percent were at moderate risk, and 29.3 percent were at high risk to reoffend. In the control group, 45.1 percent were at low risk, 33.3 percent were at moderate risk, and 21.5 percent were at high risk. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups on baseline characteristics. In the treatment group, participants could be assigned to three different types of services: residential treatment, cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT), and family interventions. Participants in residential treatment were 13.7 percent low risk, 44.3 percent moderate risk, and 42.0 percent high risk. Participants in CBT were 23.3 percent low risk, 49.0 percent moderate risk, and 27.7 percent high risk. Participants in family interventions were 49.0 percent low risk, 39.0 percent moderate risk, and 11.9 percent high risk.
The outcome of interest in this study was recidivism, defined as any incarceration to either the DYS or Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction within 1 year of completing or being terminated from a Targeted RECLAIM service (in the treatment group) or within one year of being released for DYS custody (in the control group). This was measured using state data. The recidivism rates of the treatment and matched control groups were examined to determine whether participating in Targeted RECLAIM influences the likelihood of recidivism. The study conducted subgroup analyses to determine whether the risk level of juveniles affected the effectiveness of the intervention.