(In)Effectiveness of In-Home Detention Tethers to Reduce Recidivism for System-Involved Girls

Abstract

In-home detention tethers are an intermediate, correctional sanction that have become popular alternatives to detention or incarceration. However, there is limited research on whether in-home detention tethers reduce recidivism among juvenile legal system involved girls. The current quasi-experimental study examines recidivism outcomes among adjudicated girls who received the intervention compared to a matched comparison group of girls. Recidivism rates were analyzed following completion of the intervention. In-home detention tethers were not found to be an effective method to reduce recidivism among girls.

Keywords:

• Delinquency
• electronic monitoring
• girls
• in-home detention
• juvenile courts