Effectiveness of Culturally Specific Community Treatment for African American Juvenile Felons

Abstract

In response to seemingly high recidivism rates among male African American juvenile felons in Cincinnati, a community program was created specifically for these youths. The Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Program focuses on the cultural regrounding of African American boys to improve their self-esteem and help them to develop a sense of community. The program has received national attention, yet its effectiveness for reducing recidivism remains unknown. This article presents results from a study of rearrests among juveniles who have completed the program and a comparison group of youths who underwent probation. The findings revealed that CCP did no better than regular probation for preventing recidivism among these juveniles.