Holistic Representation: A Randomized Pilot Study of Wraparound Services for First‐Time Juvenile Offenders to Improve Functioning, Decrease Motions for Review, and Lower Recidivism

• Published date: 01 April 2016
• Date: 01 April 2016
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12216
• Author: Susan Ainsley McCarter

HOLISTIC REPRESENTATION: A RANDOMIZED PILOT STUDY OF

WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR FIRST-TIME JUVENILE OFFENDERS

TO IMPROVE FUNCTIONING, DECREASE MOTIONS FOR REVIEW,

AND LOWER RECIDIVISM

1

Susan Ainsley McCarter

Abstract

Mental health diagnoses, substance abuse issues, and school problems are often cited as contributors to adolescents’ involve-

ment with the juvenile justice system. Yet, few youth receive assessment, evaluation, or intervention prior to their involvement

with the juvenile courts. This pilot study evaluated whether providing a randomized trial of wraparound forensic social work

services in addition to court-appointed legal services would improve functioning, decrease motions for review, and lower

recidivism for first-time juvenile offenders. Findings indicate statistically significant improvement for youth receiving wrap-

around services on six out of eight measures. A case study example is provided and implications for service provision are

explored.

Key Points for the Family Court Community:

Many youth enter the juvenile justice system with underlying and unaddressed risk factors such as mental health

issues, substance abuse challenges, or school problems.

Unfortunately, most adolescents’ mental health, substance abuse, and educational challenges have not been identified

or treated prior to contact with the juvenile justice system.

Court-appointed lawyers may meet defense representation needs, but holistic representation services can bolster exist-

ing client strengths/protective factors and address the underlying needs/risk factors which weaken youth functioning

and contribute to additional court involvement and/or reoffending.

Keywords: Delinquency; Forensic Social Work; Juvenile Offenders; Legal Representation; Race Disparity; Recidivism;

and Wraparound Services.

INTRODUCTION

In 2013, over 30 million youth in the United States were under the jurisdiction of the juvenile jus-

tice system (Hockenberry & Puzzanchera, 2015). During that year, departments of juvenile justice

processed 1,058,500 new cases with more than half (55%; 582,200) of the cases handled with formal

petitions through juvenile court. Despite proportionate self-reported criminal activity, delinquency

cases are disproportionate. In 2013, White youth comprised 76% of the U.S. juvenile population, but

were underrepresented in their proportion of delinquency cases at 62%; as were Asian youth (includ-

ing Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander) with 6% of the population but only 1.2% of delin-

quency cases; and American Indian youth with 2% of the population but 1.6% of delinquency cases.

Only African American youth were overrepresented; comprising 16% of the U.S. juvenile population

but 35.3% of the delinquency cases. Moreover, male youth comprised 72% of those delinquency

cases in 2013, whereas female youth comprised 23% and 53% of all delinquency cases involved

Correspondence: smccarter@uncc.edu

FAMILY COURT REVIEW, Vol. 54 No. 2, April 2016 250–260

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C2016 Association of Family and Conciliation Courts