The effects of community-based supervision on juvenile recidivism: A meta-analysis of intensive supervision probation and aftercare/re-entry programs

Community correctional sentences are administered to more juvenile offenders in North America than any other judicial sentence (Hockenberry & Puzzanchera, 2014; Torbet, 1996). Particularly prominent in juvenile corrections is intensive supervision probation and aftercare/re-entry, yet the effect of these supervision-oriented interventions on recidivism is mixed. The purpose of this meta-analytic study was to determine the effect of intensive supervision probation and aftercare/re-entry on juvenile recidivism. An extensive search of the literature and the application of strict inclusion criteria resulted in the selection of 27 studies that contributed 55 individual effect sizes. Studies were pooled based on intervention type (intensive supervision probation or aftercare/re-entry) and outcome measure (alleged offenses or convicted offenses). The pooled analyses yielded contradictory results with respect to outcome measure; in both cases, supervision had a positive effect on alleged offenses and negatively impacted convicted offenses. Implications of this pattern and recommendations for future research are discussed.