The effects of the Green Brigade program on horticultural knowledge, attitudes and behavioral changes of juvenile offenders /
In 1996, juveniles represented 14.3% of the total population in the United States but committed an estimated 1.9million crimes (31%) (Snyder, 1997). Overall juvenile violent crime rate is still 60% higher than in 1987 (Snyder, 1997). Probation is the most common sentence issued by juvenile cour...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
1998.
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| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=737708341&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | In 1996, juveniles represented 14.3% of the total population in the United States but committed an estimated 1.9million crimes (31%) (Snyder, 1997). Overall juvenile violent crime rate is still 60% higher than in 1987 (Snyder, 1997). Probation is the most common sentence issued by juvenile courts, but the practice had been criticized heavily due to the growing numbers of incarcerated juveniles in detention facilities and other institutions (Minor and Elrod, 1994). The Green BrigadeTm program for 'juvenile offenders, organized by the Bexar County Agricultural Extension Service in San Antonio, Texas is a horticultural program based on the earn while learning philosophy. The objectives of this study were to determine if participation in the Green Brigade TI program improved self-esteem, locus of control, interpersonal relationships, attitudes toward school, horticultural knowledge and environmental attitude as well as decreased crime rates. To measure psychological variables, the study used the Self-Report of Personality from The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). A questionnaire developed by the researchers measured environmental attitudes as well as basic horticultural knowledge. A control group for comparisons of psychological variables was obtained from the original data used to norm the BASC, and a separate control group for comparisons of crime rates was obtained from the Bexar County juvenile Court System. Comparisons made between participants of the Green Brigade" program and the control group revealed that juvenile offenders participating in the Green Brigade' program had significantly worse attitudes toward school and interpersonal relationships than other adolescents. Participants of the Green Brigade" program significantly improved their horticultural knowledge exam scores by 8% as a result of participating in the program. Participants also had 7% improvement in their environmental attitude scores after completing the program. The Green BrigadeTm program was also found to be as effective as traditional probationary programming at reducing the rate and severity of crimes committed by juvenile offenders. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Horticulture". |
| Physical Description: | xvii, 243 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references: pages 186-229. |