Increasing Alternative Sentencing in the Juvenile Justice System Through a Partnership Between Public Defenders and Social Workers

Abstract

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a partnership between public defender attorneys and the Alternative Sentencing Social Work Field Education Program. An outcome was to increase alternative sentences that match the rehabilitative needs of juveniles in court. Sentencing outcomes of youth receiving the social work program (n = 116) were compared to youth receiving conventional public defender representation (n = 94). A logistical regression analysis found that juveniles represented by attorneys with social workers were nearly three times more likely (odds ratio = 2.72) to receive alternative sentences than those without social workers when controlling for prior record and charge severity.