The FSP is an intensive 9-week program. Activities and group discussion topics for each week are determined from information obtained during the risk assessment and relevant issues that have immediacy to families. Although no two cycles are exactly alike, a typical cycle has the following weekly cycles: orientation and development of group cohesion, decisionmaking, cooperation, communication and rules, the importance of education, conflict resolution and anger management, the impact of shoplifting and other crimes, potential consequences, and graduation night. Since 1992, 183 families have "graduated" from the FSP. Recidivism rates have been tracked since 1992, and the data clearly show significant differences between FSP graduates and non-graduates (41 percent compared to 61 percent). Further, reoffenders who are graduates of the FSP only reoffend an average of once compared to twice for FSP non-graduates who reoffend. To address the possibility that these differences between graduates and non- graduates are due to self-selection into program participation, the researchers examined varied factors that might show that participants were more motivated or higher functioning. There were no significant differences between the two groups on any demographic or family variables. 1 figure