Computerized Stage-Matched Intervention for Juvenile Offenders

描述（由申请人提供）：青少年犯罪给受害者、社会和青少年罪犯本身带来了巨大的代价。然而，评估对青少年罪犯干预效果的研究表明，平均而言，对累犯、药物滥用和其他行为结果的影响很小。现有干预措施的一个主要问题是，它们往往忽视了个人在动机和做出积极改变的准备方面的差异。在早期的研究中，我们使用了一个经验验证的行为改变模型，跨理论模型（TTM，“阶段”模型）和专家系统技术来开发“超越你的情况”项目（RAYS），这是一个多媒体计算机化定制干预的原型，旨在作为传统少年司法项目的辅助手段。干预提供了评估和个性化的反馈，与不触犯法律、戒酒和戒毒的意愿相匹配。在每次会议结束时，该项目还生成咨询师报告，总结青少年的反馈，并提出具体的、易于实施的策略，咨询师可以使用这些策略来强化与阶段相匹配的概念。在目前的研究中，目标是完成计算机化定制干预的开发；为辅导员开发培训和其他支持材料；并在一项随机临床试验中评估干预包的有效性，该试验涉及1000名13-17岁的法庭少年。在6个月和12个月的随访中，主要结果将是再犯和药物滥用戒断。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Juvenile crime imposes enormous costs on victims, on society, and on juvenile offenders themselves. However, research assessing the efficacy of interventions for young offenders show, on average, only small effects on recidivism, substance abuse, and other behavioral outcomes. A major problem with existing interventions is that they tend to neglect individual differences in motivation and readiness to make positive changes. In earlier research, we used an empirically validated model of behavior change, the Transtheoretical Model (TTM, the "stage" model), and expert system technology to develop the Rise Above Your Situation program (RAYS), a prototype of a multimedia computerized tailored intervention designed as an adjunct to traditional juvenile justice programs. The intervention delivers assessments and individualized feedback matched to readiness to stay out of trouble with the law and quit alcohol and drugs. At the end each session the program also generates counselor report that summarizes the youth's feedback and presents concrete, easy-to-implement strategies counselors can use to reinforce stage-matched concepts. In the current research, the goals are to complete development of the computerized tailored intervention; develop training and other support materials for counselors; and assess the efficacy of the intervention package in a randomized clinical trial involving 1,000 court-involved juveniles aged 13-17. Primary outcomes will be criminal recidivism and substance abuse abstinence at 6 and 12 months follow-up.