J Trauma
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Turning point: rethinking violence--evaluation of program efficacy in reducing adolescent violent crime recidivism.
The link between medicine and violence prevention is self-evident, yet the literature reveals few studies that scientifically document effective interventions. The Turning Point: Rethinking Violence (TPRV) program is a unique multiagency program developed to expose, educate, and remediate first-time violent offenders and their parents regarding the real-world consequences of violence. Four key components are integrated into a 6-week, court-ordered program (14 total contact hours): the Trauma Experience (tour, video, discussions), the Victim Impact Panel (presented by parent survivors), Group Process, and Community Networking (individualized mental health referral). We hypothesize that TPRV delivers lower outcomes regarding violence recidivism (VR) when compared with standard court sentencing options (100 hours of community service) for first-time violent offenders. ⋯ The TPRV program decreases VR when compared with standard sentencing options. The broad-spectrum approach (real-world exposure, parental involvement, peer support, follow-up) appears successful in addressing recidivism, and could potentially reduce the epidemic in adolescent violence and the subsequent impact on trauma care.