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The “Experimenting Agencyâ€

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  • Ted Palmer
  • Anthony Petrosino

Abstract

During the 1960s and 1970s, the California Youth Authority embarked on a series of randomized field trials to test interventions for juvenile and young adult offenders. This article examines the institutional and political reasons why rigorous tests were adopted for such interventions as the Community Treatment Program. It also describes the effect these trials had on the agency and on California justice, as well as how the experimental method eventually became less often used in the Youth Authority. The authors explore some general reasons why this happened.

Suggested Citation

  • Ted Palmer & Anthony Petrosino, 2003. "The “Experimenting Agencyâ€," Evaluation Review, , vol. 27(3), pages 228-266, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:evarev:v:27:y:2003:i:3:p:228-266
    DOI: 10.1177/0193841X03027003003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Greenberg & Mark Shroder & Matthew Onstott, 1999. "The Social Experiment Market," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 13(3), pages 157-172, Summer.
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