Intervention Principles and Practice Guidelines for - Underage ...

CONCLUSION
In moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach to responding to underage drinking offenders,
it is important to recognize that effective intervention with all juvenile and adult offenders,
including those who drink underage, begins with good assessment and case management
practices. Screening young people to determine if there could be a more substantial substance
abuse issue that needs to be addressed is a crucial first step in responding appropriately to underage
drinking offenders. Additional assessment of risk and needs and substance assessment (if warranted)
also will yield objective information that can be used to validate community corrections professionals’
assumptions about young people and give them more direction on the young person’s needs that
can be targeted for services and change. Assessment data can also be used as a gauge to assess the
effectiveness of prescribed interventions (as a pre/post test) used with underage drinkers in an effort to
evaluate what is and is not working with individual youth and with this population as whole. Therefore,
assessment is not only done at the start of a young person’s involvement in diversion or probation, but
it should be done throughout his/her involvement with diversion or probation services.
Developing a well-thought-out case plan, with input and assistance from the young person also can
increase the young person’s understanding of, and buy-in to, their program requirements or conditions.
It is important to recognize, however, that a significant number of underage drinking offenders may
not see a need or want to change. Thus, determining their readiness to change and motivating them
to progress through the change process is a key role for justice system professionals. In carrying out
the elements of case plans, officers should incorporate evidence-based practices calling for matching
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