Meta-Analysis of Scared Straight and other Juvenile Awareness Programs For Preventing Juvenile Delinquency By: Anthony Petrosino, Carolyn Turpin-Petrosino, and John Buehler. Presented by: Mike Formichella June 2004 Radford University

What are Scared Straight Programs? New Jersey (1970’s) New Jersey (1970’s) Documentary (1979) Documentary (1979) 16 out of 17 remained law abiding for 3 months 16 out of 17 remained law abiding for 3 months Replicated in more than 30 jurisdictions nationwide. Replicated in more than 30 jurisdictions nationwide. Goal is deterrence Goal is deterrence

Finckenauer 1982 Conducted a randomized controlled trial of the New Jersey program Conducted a randomized controlled trial of the New Jersey program Found no effect on criminal behavior Found no effect on criminal behavior Found that participants are more likely to be arrested than those in a control group Found that participants are more likely to be arrested than those in a control group Yet belief in the program continued Yet belief in the program continued

“Panacea Phenomenon” Phrase coined by Finckenauer Phrase coined by Finckenauer “process by which policy makers, practitioners, media reporters, and others some-times latch onto quick short-term, and inexpensive cures to solve difficult social problems. “process by which policy makers, practitioners, media reporters, and others some-times latch onto quick short-term, and inexpensive cures to solve difficult social problems.

Goal of this Meta-Analysis Assess the effects of Scared straight and other deterrence programs aimed at Juvenile delinquents and predelinquents. Assess the effects of Scared straight and other deterrence programs aimed at Juvenile delinquents and predelinquents. Do they work? Do they work?

Selection Criteria Must be randomized or quasi-randomized Must be randomized or quasi-randomized Must have controlled trials or a true control group Must have controlled trials or a true control group Must include only juveniles who are delinquents or predelinquents Must include only juveniles who are delinquents or predelinquents Intervention must include a prison visit as main component Intervention must include a prison visit as main component

Selection Criteria Continued Focused on crime measures Focused on crime measures At least one outcome measure At least one outcome measure

Search Strategy Tried to identify published and unpublished studies Tried to identify published and unpublished studies Bias towards significance Bias towards significance Searched databases in different fields to minimize discipline bias Searched databases in different fields to minimize discipline bias

Search Strategy Continued Guided by Petrosino’s initial review of field trials in crime reduction Guided by Petrosino’s initial review of field trials in crime reduction Found initial 300 studies Found initial 300 studies Handsearch of journals Handsearch of journals Bibliography search of previous studies Bibliography search of previous studies 6 Electronic databases 6 Electronic databases 18 bibliographic databases 18 bibliographic databases Mail Campaign Mail Campaign Solicitations in association newsletters Solicitations in association newsletters

More Search Strategy Search was further augmented by searches designed to find relevant articles published after Petrosoino’s review Search was further augmented by searches designed to find relevant articles published after Petrosoino’s review Electronic databases Electronic databases Bibliography search of more recent systematic or traditional reviews Bibliography search of more recent systematic or traditional reviews correspondence with selected researchers correspondence with selected researchers

Even More Search Strategy More specific search of 14 different electronic databases More specific search of 14 different electronic databases Conducted searches on the World Wide Web through Hotbot, Altavista, and later with Google. Conducted searches on the World Wide Web through Hotbot, Altavista, and later with Google.

Methodology Over 500 studies were identified Over 500 studies were identified 9 were found to meet the admission criteria 9 were found to meet the admission criteria Major problem was randomization Major problem was randomization

Data Analysis Organized information into four indexes Organized information into four indexes Prevalence rates Prevalence rates Average incidence rates Average incidence rates Offence severity rates Offence severity rates latency latency

Data Analysis Continued The only measure which was consistently reported in all 9 studies was prevalence. The only measure which was consistently reported in all 9 studies was prevalence. Due to this measures dichotomous nature Odds Ratios were used Due to this measures dichotomous nature Odds Ratios were used

Data KN Odds Ratio 95% CI Lower 95% CI Upper

Results Juveniles who participate in prison oriented deterrence programs are almost twice as likely (1.75/1) to re-offend than those in the control group Juveniles who participate in prison oriented deterrence programs are almost twice as likely (1.75/1) to re-offend than those in the control group

Discussion Not only are these interventions unsuccessful, they also do harm. Not only are these interventions unsuccessful, they also do harm. In spite of results like these, programs persist nationwide. In spite of results like these, programs persist nationwide. Programs may benefit the prison population Programs may benefit the prison population May be effective as part of a multicomponent package May be effective as part of a multicomponent package

Limitations Sample of studies too specific Sample of studies too specific