A test of the effectiveness of a peer recovery model (PRM) for adolescent recidivism prevention

This is an explanatory study to investigate the effectiveness of addressing life-style addiction to prevent adolescent criminal activity and concomitant recidivism. This research tested whether youth, who are incarcerated in a county correctional facility and participating in a program designed to address lifestyle addiction, will show more positive outcome and less recidivism than similar participants before implementation of the intervention. The phenomenon under study is the effect of the Peer Recovery Model (PRM). The study outcomes are recidivism and improvements in living situation. The measures are reports from the jail and scores on the Pro-Social Lifestyle (PSL) Scale. The proximal goal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the intervention. The distal goal is to develop an increased ability to prevent recidivism in other, similar groups and to build support for wider use of the PRM.; The intervention rationale is based upon a concept of non-substance addiction which includes risky, criminal behavior. It is theorized a treatment modality with proven success with other addictions should also prove effective with this population. If the application of the PRM process does prevent recidivism, it will lend support to the theory.; Three sample groups, (Life Skills Only (LSO), partial PRM (PRM-1) and full PRM (PRM-2)), received a different level of intervention. The hypotheses that the PRM will result in a reduction in recidivism were supported. These results persisted in the partial PRM-1 and the full PRM-2 groups, although factors in these two groups such as numbers of prior arrests, age and inner city residence, would have predicted a greater risk of recidivism than the LSO group. The hypotheses concerning improved lifestyle were not supported. Higher scores on the PSL positively associated with lower recidivism although not with the PRM as evidenced by group membership.