Effective community-based supervision of young offenders contains the results of a study in which 46 NSW Justice Department staff were observed during interview sessions with 117 young people, whose ages ranged from 12 to 18.
The study found that there is a marked relationship between the use of rewards by supervisors and low reoffending. It also found that a strong client–worker relationship was important for effective supervision, as was a non-blaming approach. The findings of the study will have implications for the recruitment, training and roles of those who work in the youth justice system.
Download this AIC Trends and Issues in Criminal Justice paper no. 448 from the AIC website: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi.html
(Source: Youth Field Express, February 2013)