Collecting and using data
You should routinely review each youth's progress toward achieving their goals.
In order to help support make positive behavior changes and keep this change going, you need to be strength-based, which has shown to be a more effective approach than focusing just on compliance.[1][2][3][4] By building relationships with the youth, family, and community you can collaborate with other service providers to make sure services don’t end before the youth is ready.
These services should be specific to each youth, which means that the prevalence of trauma and past experiences should be a factor in deciding what needs to be addressed by service providers. Once a youth is off your caseload they are no longer in your jurisdiction so you need to have everything set up for when they are finished with probation. As a part of case closure, make sure to review the positive changes that have been made and why this is important so that youth can further understand how their behavior affects them and others, which can be a challenge for some during adolescent brain development.
Reviewing, supporting, and maintaining positive behavior change
Probation officers should document and routinely review each youth's progress toward achieving their planned activities.
The routine documentation of progress allows for increased ability to make needed changes, productivity in meeting with youth, and serves as a means to better recognize positive behavior changes.[5] Monitoring the progress of youth on supervision, however, requires the tracking of both goal attainment and any setbacks.
Research indicates that an overreliance on control and compliance monitoring is less effective in promoting long-term positive behavior change and reducing recidivism. Community supervision, practices should not rely on compliance monitoring, but focus on building positive relationships with youth and families to promote positive behavior change.[6][7][8][9]
Measuring progress
Each youth should have a plan, specified to meet their needs and emphasize their strengths.
The goals and objectives defined in collaboration with the youth can be used to monitor progress. For each case it is important to document the progress at specified points in the case, achievement of goals, completion dates, anticipated outcomes, and actual outcomes.
Rating scale
Case Plan reviews should include documentation of progress for each objective outlined in the plan. A standard scale to rate progress can be used.
Supporting and maintaining change
The Case Plan should define short-term and long-term goals that will address the youth’s needs and build a foundation for future positive behaviors.
Transparent discussions about expectations and progress should be the cornerstone of reviewing each case. Throughout the case, reviewing progress should be done with the youth encouraging achievement of their objectives by using positive reinforcement, rewarding and celebrating the completion of goals and positive behaviors, as well as responding to any non-compliance.
Supporting change requires probation professionals to be accessible to the youth on their caseload, providing regular feedback on their progress, emphasizing their improvements, encouraging continued positive behaviors, and generally acting as a positive, supportive role model. Providing regular feedback to youth should be done using the Case Plan objectives, discussing progress toward each goal, celebrating achievements, and identifying reasons for any setbacks. For instance, if a youth is not achieving their goal to attend school regularly, work with them to identify the reason and find a potential solution to mediate any barriers and promote attendance. The continued discussion allows room for making any needed adjustments to the Case Plan.
Case closure
Effectively maintaining change after case closure requires collaboration with community partnerships, resources, and support systems.
Throughout the case, the services and lessons provided for the youth will have tackled a monumental first step in preparation for their case closure and future success, but there are important things to discuss with each youth before their case ends. For youth whose cases are ending due to aging out of juvenile jurisdiction see considerations for Aging Out of the Juvenile Justice System.
Reinforce their self-esteem and encourage them to continue to set and work toward goals
- Talk to them and their support system about their accomplishments
- Talk about the skills they have learned and how they can continue to use them
- Talk to them and their support system about their plans for the future
Review the youth’s support system with them to ensure they know who to turn to for help.
Connect the youth to domain-specific (mental health, substance use treatment, healthcare, educational and vocational services, housing, transportation, pregnancy/parenting) services where appropriate. For each domain relevant to the youth:
- Speak to the youths current provider
- Determine if continuation of services are needed
- Work with your community to identify services that may be available
- Talk to the youth about their plans for each domain and identify potential backup plans
- Talk to the youth about any concerns they have in any of the domains relevant to them
“When getting ready to end probation with a youth, I like to do what are called ‘maintenance’ or ‘relapse prevention’ plans. I meet with the youth and we discuss where they started and the initial goals they set for themselves. From there we talk about experiences they have had while on supervision, skills they have learned, and I try and help them see how far they have come and the progress that has been made. From there we talk about their future goals, scenarios that may come up, and how they can handle those situations utilizing the skills that they have developed. And in the end, I always remind them that even though they may not be on probation any longer, they have me as a support person in their life and can reach out whenever they need to.”
—Probation Administrator, Washington
“The measurement of progress is individualized to every youth. Measurement of progress should be treated as a spectrum; looking for those small, tangible things. For some youth, progress is measured by using the cycle of change. It is looking at the program or treatment they are in and measuring progress through their participation. For others, progress is measured in seeing youth generalize the skills they have been taught in everyday situations. And for others progress is measured through conversation and observation, taking note of changes in thinking.”
—Probation Administrator, Washington
“We track 1–2 year return to system after probation is completed. We also track 1–2 year return to system based on the JPC’s assessment of the following areas:
- Cycle of Change at the time of discharge
- Skill Attainment (domain 12 of the PACT)
- Attitude and Behavior (domain 10 of the PACT)
-Family (domain 7b of the PACT)”
—Probation Administrator, Washington
References
- Torbet, P. Griffin, P. (2002) Desktop guide to good juvenile probation practice. Washington DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
- Howell, J. C., and M. W.Lipsey. 2012. Research-Based Guidelines for Juvenile Justice Programs.Justice Research and Policy 14 (1): 17–34.
- Lipsey, M. W., J. C. Howell, M. R. Kelly, G. Chapman, and D. Carver. 2010. Improving the Effectiveness of Juvenile Justice Programs: A New Perspective on Evidence-Based Practice. Washington, DC: Georgetown University, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform.
- Harvell, S., Love, H., Pelletier, E., Warnberg, C., Willison, J. B., & Winkler, M. K. (2018). Bridging Research and Practice in Juvenile Probation.
- Thomas, D., Torbet, P., and Deal, T. (2011). Implementing Effective Case Management Strategies: A Guide for Probation Administrators. Technical Assistance to the Juvenile Court Bulletin. Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice.
- Torbet, P. Griffin, P. (2002) Desktop guide to good juvenile probation practice. Washington DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
- Howell, J. C., and M. W.Lipsey. 2012. Research-Based Guidelines for Juvenile Justice Programs.Justice Research and Policy 14 (1): 17–34.
- Lipsey, M. W., J. C. Howell, M. R. Kelly, G. Chapman, and D. Carver. 2010. Improving the Effectiveness of Juvenile Justice Programs: A New Perspective on Evidence-Based Practice. Washington, DC: Georgetown University, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform.
- Harvell, S., Love, H., Pelletier, E., Warnberg, C., Willison, J. B., & Winkler, M. K. (2018). Bridging Research and Practice in Juvenile Probation.