How Effective Is Aftercare?

Abstract

This study compares 198 delinquent boys placed in boarding homes or group homes or returned to their own homes after release from an institution. The results indicate that boys placed in boarding homes and group homes were approximately similar in most background and social factors, while boys returned to their own homes differed significantly in a number of factors. Boys placed in boarding or group homes came from lower socio-economic backgrounds and less cohesive families than those returned to their own homes. However, even with socio-economic status equalized over the three samples, approximately the same pattern of similarities and differences in background factors and institutional and postrelease adjustment variables emerged. The results also indicate that boys subsequently placed in boarding or group homes had fewer prior court referrals, displayed a better institutional and postrelease adjustment, and continued to show a better adjustment than those returned to their own homes. These results suggest that a longer stay in the institution and more comprehensive supervision by probation-parole agents may be necessary for many boys returned to their own homes, particularly those showing a poorer-than-average institutional ad justment or having a relatively long prior record.