Efficacy of a Decompression Treatment Model in the Clinical Management of Violent Juvenile Offenders

TLDR

Decompression treatment was originally developed to improve institutional adjustment among mentally disordered adult offenders. This study adapted the treatment for juvenile offenders to evaluate its effect on recidivism. The authors compared 10 decompression‑treated juveniles with 10 matched mental‑health treatment controls and 10 assessment‑only controls, matching participants on demographics, behavior, and personality. Both decompression‑treated and usual‑treatment juveniles had significantly lower 2‑year recidivism (10% and 20%) than assessment‑only controls (70%), suggesting the treatment is effective for the most disruptive offenders.

Abstract

Criminal recidivism was assessed for 10 highly disruptive and aggressive, incarcerated juvenile offenders who received decompression treatment, for 10 matched controls who received mental health treatment services, and for 10 assessment-only controls. Treated participants were matched with controls on a number of demographic, behavioral, and personality variables. Decompression treatment was developed to improve the institutional adjustment of mentally disordered adult offenders and is adapted here for juvenile offenders. Participants in the decompression treatment and usual treatment groups were both significantly less likely to recidivate in the approximately 2-year follow-up period than were assessment-only subjects who received mental health assessment only and received the usual juvenile corrections rehabilitation services (10%, 20%, and 70% recidivism, respectively). The results suggest that decompression treatment may be successfully applied to the most unmanageable and disruptive institutionalized juvenile offenders.