Improving Juvenile Justice Settings by Decreasing Coercion: One Lab’s Perspectives from Behind the Fence

Abstract

In this article, we outline an emerging role for applied behavior analysis in juvenile justice by summarizing recent publications from our lab and discussing our procedures through the lens of coercion proposed by Goltz ( 2020 ). In particular, we focus on individual and group interventions that target a range of behaviors emitted by adolescents in a residential treatment facility. In general, individual interventions involve teaching adolescents to (1) respond appropriately to staff, (2) tolerate nonpreferred environmental conditions, and (3) control problematic sexual arousal. Likewise, group interventions involve low-effort manipulations that decrease disruptive behavior and increase appropriate behavior in settings with numerous adolescents. Thereafter, we describe behavioral interventions for staff working in juvenile justice. These staff-focused interventions aim to increase staff-initiated, positive interactions with students in order to change subsequent student behavior. In addition, we review our recent endeavors to assess and conceptualize other service providers’ behavioral products (i.e., prescription practices) in a juvenile facility. Lastly, we discuss future directions of behavior-analytic intervention with juvenile-justice involved adolescents.

Correspondence between resident‐ and staff‐report on the QABF: Do justice‐involved youth agree with residential staff?

“…(2018) and Luna et al. (2022), residents of the JRTF were court‐ordered to receive accountability‐based treatment for their offenses. Following adjudication, participants received a variety of educational and therapeutic services within the JRTF.…”

“…The facility housed a school, which provided residents the opportunity to obtain either a high school diploma or general education degree and vocational training. The project also provided individual and family therapy, vocational opportunities (e.g., horticulture), and recreational activities (e.g., sewing), as well behavior‐analytic services via the ABA team (Luna et al., 2022).…”

“…Residents' issues often meet minimum requirements for special educational assistance, a diagnosis of an emotional and behavioral disorder, or both (Gagnon et al., 2015; Quinn et al., 2005). Consistent with these conditions, JRTF residents may direct various problem behaviors (e.g., verbal disrespect, inappropriate social interactions) toward each other, staff members, or both (Luna et al., 2022). To compound these problems, staff members at JRTFs typically function within a fast‐paced, high‐demand environment with limited habilitation resources.…”

“…(2018) and Luna et al. (2022) outlined the emerging role of behavior‐analytic services in a specific JRTF. These services have included individual interventions to (a) increase residents' appropriate interactions with correctional staff (Brogan et al., 2021; Niedfeld et al., 2020; O’Rourke et al., 2021), (b) decrease residents' inappropriate and disrespectful verbal behavior while in the JRTF (Brogan et al., 2020), and (c) increase residents' skills for community reintegration (Edgemon, Rapp, Brogan, et al., 2020; Edgemon, Rapp, Coon, et al., 2020; Hamrich, Richling, Davis, et al., 2021).…”

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Treating Severe Behavior in a Juvenile Justice Facility: Teaching Behavioral Self-Management via Telehealth

“…If primary mental health service providers have access to interprofessional collaboration opportunities, they may seek help from other disciplines to better address daily behavioral concerns. One potential solution could be the addition of focused individual behavioral interventions with oversight from behavior analysts (Luna et al, 2022 ). Thus, behavioral services may be considered another additive component of intervention when “treatment as usual” is unable to fully address daily behavioral concerns within the facility.…”