Date
5-9-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
In the summer of 2016, I participated in an internship with the Massachusetts Department of Correction Program & Reentry Services Division. I worked with state policy analysts to research and implement new reentry program initiatives in state facilities. The responsibility of these state employees was to identify key areas of research and evaluate program effectiveness through statistical analysis. I learned it was possible to compare and contrast public programs through comparative analytical study. The purpose of this honors thesis is to research violence reduction programs under the Safe and Successful Youth Initiative (SSYI) in Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities. This paper will evaluate the effectiveness of SSYI programs to better understand how these programs affect victims, violent offenders, and youth violence within Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities. The paper with introduce a brief description of gateway cities and the evolution of the SSYI. This paper will discuss the methodology of choosing Gateway Cities, and why certain cities were selected for this research project.
Furthermore, the paper will define the problem statement and identify research indicators within the comparative program analysis. This paper will then compare and contrast public program data to show the effectiveness of inputs, resources, outputs, and outcomes of the SSYI public programs selected in the Gateway Cities. This paper will conclude with the overall findings of the research, and it will indicate policy recommendations in specific cities. This paper provides a third-party analysis of current public programs focused on reducing youth violence, to provide a method for evaluating these public programs and to identify positive and negative externalities associated with these public programs. After evaluation, the conclusion of the study found that SSYI programs in Brockton and New Bedford are achieving desired results and success within their outlined program theory.
Department
Political Science
Thesis Comittee
Melinda Tarsi (Thesis Director)
Brian Frederick
Inkyoung Kim
Copyright and Permissions
Original document was submitted as an Honors Program requirement. Copyright is held by the author.
Recommended Citation
Costa, Adam J.. (2017). A Comparative Program Analysis of the Safe and Successful Youth initiative in the Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities of Brockton and New Bedford. In BSU Honors Program Theses and Projects. Item 202. Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/honors_proj/202
Copyright © 2017 Adam J. Costa