Program Profile: California's Repeat Offender Prevention Program (ROPP)

This is a supervision program for high-risk youths. The program is rated Ineffective. Participants had a statistically significant decrease in the number of felony petitions, compared with the control group; however, there were no differences in petitions for new offenses, misdemeanor petitions, warrant status, days spent in custody, GPA, classes passed, classes failed, or number of days of school attended. There were also mixed findings on petitions for probation violations.

An Ineffective rating implies that implementing the program is unlikely to result in the intended outcome(s).

This program's rating is based on evidence that includes at least one high-quality randomized controlled trial.

This program's rating is based on evidence that includes either 1) one study conducted in multiple sites; or 2) two or three studies, each conducted at a different site. Learn about how we make the multisite determination.

An Ineffective rating implies that implementing the program is unlikely to result in the intended outcome(s).

This program's rating is based on evidence that includes at least one high-quality randomized controlled trial.

This program's rating is based on evidence that includes either 1) one study conducted in multiple sites; or 2) two or three studies, each conducted at a different site. Learn about how we make the multisite determination.

Program Goals/Target Population

California’s Repeat Offender Prevention Program (ROPP) is a multimodal early intervention program targeting youths at high risk of becoming chronic delinquents. Originally developed by the Orange County (Calif.) Probation Department in the early 1990s, the program features a combination of intensive supervision and wraparound services. (It is also sometimes referred to as the 8% Solution, because of its emphasis on the small percentage of youth most likely to become adults who commit serious crimes repeatedly.)

To qualify for ROPP, juveniles must people convicted of an offense for the first time be first-time, no older than 15½, and exhibit at least three of the following risk factors:

• School behavior and performance problems (attendance, suspension/expulsion, failure of two or more classes)
• Family problems (poor supervision/control, history of domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, family members with criminal backgrounds)
• Substance abuse problems (regular use of alcohol or drugs)
• High-risk behaviors (stealing, chronic runaway, gang membership)

Between 1994 and 2000 the State of California implemented multiyear ROPP demonstration projects in eight California counties: Fresno, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Solano. At each site, probation officers identified cases that were appropriate for the program and referred them to a youth and family resource center. At the centers, agencies collaborated as a team to assess a youth’s need and devise a case planning strategy. The collaborative partners offered an array of enhanced services such as individual and group counseling, mental health services, tutoring, transportation, and vocational training.

Program Activities

There were slight variations in the service delivery models used at each site. Some ROPP counties implemented a centralized model in which participants received all services at a “one-stop center.” Others pursued a more decentralized approach, relying on conventional referral networks or a network of regional service hubs. However, all the sites adhered to the same basic program model—relying on a multidisciplinary intervention team to provide enhanced case management and integrated services to all participating youths and their families.

In San Diego County, youths who are gang-involved are transferred to the Gang Suppression Unit, which provides intensive supervision for documented gang members and emphasizes a high level of community control through proactive enforcement of conditions of probation, using searches, drug tests, and law enforcement surveillance. Aftercare services provided by community agencies and through natural family supports are gradually phased in for all clients as program completion approaches, by linking community and family services into the case management plan. Employing a “wraparound” approach to service delivery (a strengths-based, family-centered approach that seeks a balance between formal services and natural supports that continue to support the family when formal services are no longer needed) helps create an environment in which clients are less dependent on ROPP, so transition away from ROPP is made easier.

Study

The Howard and colleagues study (2002) was an evaluation of California’s Repeat Offender Prevention Program (ROPP) as implemented by the San Diego County Probation Department. During the period between May 1997 and December 2001, a true experiment took place randomly assigning 196 cases to ROPP and 171 cases to a control condition which consisted of regular probation. First-time wards who were under 15½ years of age were referred for eligibility screening described above (based on residency and presenting with at least one of the identified risk factors). The ROPP sample was 52 percent Hispanic, 31 percent Black, 9 percent white, 8 percent Asian and 1 percent other ethnicity. The control group was 42 percent Hispanic, 34 percent Black, 11 percent white, 12 percent Asian and 2 percent other ethnicities.

Both groups being compared were youth at high risk of reoffending and displayed numerous risk factors. At intake it was noted that both groups experienced significant stress (ROPP 95 percent and control 98 percent), criminal family influences (ROPP 70 percent and control 64 percent) and family violence (ROPP 72 percent and control 67 percent). Eighty-eight percent of ROPP and 87 percent of the comparison group were enrolled in school at intake, although most experienced attendance problems (ROPP 68 percent and control 70 percent). The two groups’ criminal histories were also quite similar with 64 percent of both groups having a felony offense charge filed against them prior to intake.

The data collected included demographic characteristics, offending patterns, risk factors, school performance, and protective factors for the youth in both groups with 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month reassessments. Additionally, a process evaluation was performed that included interviews with staff, surveys of the service providers, and interviews with families and clients, although these will not be examined in depth in this review. Inferential statistical tests conducted on the collected data include Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and chi-Square tests. No subgroup analyses were conducted.

Study

The Zhang and Zhang (2005) study was an evaluation of ROPP as implemented by Los Angeles County as part of a 3-year pilot project, from 1999 to 2001. The study is a randomized experiment, with the participants including youth who are under 15½ years of age, who are first-time wards of the juvenile court, and who present with problems in at least three high-risk behaviors (school behavior and performance, family problems, substance use, and predelinquent behaviors). A total of 327 first-time juveniles on probation were randomized with 165 assigned to ROPP and 162 assigned to a comparison condition of regular probation. The study does not employ an intent-to-treat analysis; it examines only the differences between the groups in terms of probation term completers, which are 106 ROPP participants, and 98 comparison group participants. This means that the results presented by the study are not conservative estimates, and may overstate programmatic effects. The analysis sample was 79.2 percent male for the ROPP group and 81.6 percent male for the control group. Of the ROPP participants, 57.5 percent were Black and 42.5 percent were Hispanic, compared to 62.5 percent Black and 37.8 percent Hispanic for the control group.

The outcomes being examined were school performance (measured by attendance and academic performance in terms of classes passed and GPA), as well as recidivism outcomes, which were measured by examining the petitions for probation violation or for new offenses. Outcomes were assessed at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-up periods. Analyses were conducted to establish significance based on mean differences. No subgroup analyses were conducted.

These sources were used in the development of the program profile:

These sources were used in the development of the program profile:

Ja, Davis Y., Nancy Yalon, Mary Gee, Megan Oser, Jerry Lawler, Candice Yee, Christina Chin, Julie Curry, Lisa Rodriguez, Matt Meyer, Kim Morris, Emily Fleischman, and Eduardo Morales. 2003. The Repeat Offenders Prevention Project (ROPP) of the City/County of San Francisco: A Final Evaluation Report. San Francisco, Calif.: Davis Y. Ja and Associates, Inc. (This study was reviewed but did not meet the criteria for inclusion on CrimeSolutions.)

Board of Corrections. 2002. Repeat Offender Prevention Program: Final Report to the Legislature. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.