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Programa Shortstop: A Culturally Focused Juvenile Intervention for Hispanic Youth

NCJ Number
211031
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 34 Issue: 4 Dated: 2004 Pages: 385-405
Author(s)
Richard C. Cervantes; Karen Ruan; Norma Duenas
Date Published
2004
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of a culturally focused juvenile and substance abuse prevention program for Hispanic first time juvenile offenders.
Abstract
Programa Shortstop is one of the few culturally sensitive juvenile delinquency and substance abuse prevention programs in the country. It is a family based intervention program for Hispanic first time juvenile offenders aged 9 to 17 years; the goal is to decrease juvenile delinquency recidivism and increase resistance to substance abuse. Programa Shortstop was delivered to 352 Hispanic youth and at least 1 parent or caregiver during the course of the 5-year evaluation period. Recidivism rates for 321 participants were tracked using probation records and through telephone interviews with 138 parents of participants upon program completion and at 2 years following program completion. A pre-post test design with no control group was also employed on substance use and delinquency data. Results indicated that 89 percent of the youths who participated in Programa Shortstop between 1995 and 1997 were not rearrested during the 1-year follow-up period following program completion. Both participants and parents demonstrated increased knowledge about the legal system and substance abuse. However, Programa Shortstop’s effectiveness at reducing substance abuse remains uncertain and should be evaluated in future studies. The findings suggest that culturally focused delinquency programming for Hispanic youth may effectively reduce delinquency. Tables, references