Program Enhancement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Program Enhancement - Essay Example The goal of the IAP is to â€Å"reduce recidivism among high-risk parolees by providing carefully targeted services and counseling to youthful offenders throughout correctional supervision, prerelease, community reentry, and community supervision† (National Institute of Justice, 1998). According to The Center for Delinquency and Crime Policy Studies, the IAP is based on five underlying principles for reintegration for juveniles. These five principles are â€Å"(a) preparing youth for progressively increased responsibility and freedom in the community, (b) facilitating youth-community interaction and involvement, (c) working with both the offender and community support systems on qualities needed for constructive interaction and the youths’ successful return to the community, (d) developing new resources and supports where needed, and (e) monitoring and testing the youth’s and the community’s ability to work productively together† (The Center for Del inquency and Crime Policy Studies, n.d.). The IAP was effective specifically in Colorado, one of the states which initially tested the program. The effectiveness of the IAP in Colorado can be attributed to the strong administrative support backed up by a well-trained and committed staff who developed programs centered on a team approach (Wiebush, Wagner, McNulty, Wang, & Le, 2005). In the case of Nevada, another state which tested the program, it was effective in giving the youth intensive community services. The design of the transition structure is noteworthy. One shortcoming of the IAP in Nevada was the high turnover of the liaison position; thus, hampering the coordination between IAP and the community provider networks, which facilitated the transition strategies (Wiebush, et al., 2005). Another problem which beset the program was the lack of involvement of the families of the juvenile. To enhance the effectiveness of the IAP it is suggested that parental involvement should be