Improving the Effectiveness of Juvenile Justice Programs: A New

X. Conclusion
This paper has presented a framework for juvenile justice
system reform that is organized around evidence-based
treatment programs for juvenile offenders integrated into a
comprehensive strategy for deploying those programs in a
cost-effective manner that maximizes effects on recidivism.
As experience with the OJJDP Comprehensive Strategy
on Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders has
shown, the use of structured decision-making tools
coupled with a system of graduated sanctions and an array
of effective services results in a juvenile justice system that
addresses offenders’ criminogenic risks while protecting
public safety. However, if the treatment services provided
within the CS framework are not effective, the success of
the entire system is jeopardized. By embedding the SPEP
within the CS framework, we have an evidence-based,
validated tool for assessing the expected effectiveness
of those services and guiding improvement when they
fall short. As a result, the CS/SPEP framework offers the
potential for substantial improvements in the way our
juvenile justice systems operate.
Improving the Effectiveness of Juvenile Justice Programs: A New Perspective on Evidence-Based Practice
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