Evaluation of an experimental program designed to have a positive effect on adjudicated, violent, incarcerated male juveniles age 12–25 in the state of Oregon

The purpose of this case study is to evaluate the effect of Project POOCH on violent, incarcerated, male juveniles. The site is MacLaren Correctional Institution, Oregon Youth Authority, located in Woodburn, Oregon. Project POOCH addresses recidivism, reformation and behavioral change in a structured environment by using human-animal interaction. It is intended to place values of reformation in a context underlined by judicial orders, by Oregon Youth Authority, by MacLaren administration and by the Oregon Department of Education. The period of investigation was September 1993 through June 1999. No other similar dog program or published research was found on this subject.

Reformation programs for incarcerated youth are concerned with two questions: what programs work and how do we measure the effect of these programs? This study was concerned with determining what difference Project POOCH made concerning recidivism, reformation objectives accomplished and behavioral improvement exhibited within the institution.

The findings indicate that there is zero recidivism of POOCH participants, that the program assists to meet judicial orders and educational expectations with high percentages. Based on survey responses from the supervising adults there is a marked behavioral improvement in areas of respect for authority, social interaction and leadership. Surveyed youth provided positive developmental descriptors of change and growth in areas of honesty, empathy, nurturing, social growth, understanding, confidence level and pride of accomplishment—as law requires during their incarceration.

Nine suggestions are made regarding future research. Eight recommendations are addressed to the State of Oregon Youth Authority and seven suggestions are made concerning future program development and expansion.

The study indicates that human-animal interaction provides the catalyst to allow an extremely troubled youth to view life in a new way with a high degree of success. The program fulfills its responsibility to the judicial orders, the required educational outcomes and the institutional goals.

Project POOCH achieves the objective of reformation based on a recidivism rate of zero. The study shows that Project POOCH accomplishes many objectives and that combining a youth and a dog in a structured, educational environment creates definite movement from evil to industry.