This study explores the impact of adjudicated residential addiction treatment on recidivism in female youth. Recidivism was measured both in elapsed time to reoffending and in number of new offences in several offence categories. Findings indicate that female youth admitted to the residential addiction treatment program demonstrated reduced recidivism in several offence categories, compared to youth who were referred, but not admitted, to the program. Unlike previous research, this study did not indicate a relationship between multiproblem youth and reduced engagement and retention or less positive treatment outcomes. As the treatment program operates as an alternative to custody, these findings support that adjudicated treatment may be effective in addressing the issues underlying criminal behaviour in some youth.
