Implementation and Evaluation of an Emerging Adult Curriculum in Rockdale County, Georgia, 2023-2024

Emerging adults (EAs) are the future of America, even with an increasing number of individuals confined by the criminal legal system on any given day. To address the needs of the justice-involved youthful adults population, this project aimed to implement and test the effectiveness of a developmentally appropriate jail-based program for improving youths' lives post-release. The Developmental Reentry for Emerging Adult Management (DREAM) program follows cognitive-behavioral approaches tailored to 17- to 24-year-olds using group-based learning sessions, individualized counseling sessions with clinical staff, and case management and comprehensive reentry services. The goals of the 90-day program are to reduce institutional misconducts within the jail and improve EAs' reentry success. This study tested the effectiveness of the DREAM program in one county jail among a developmentally unique population -- young adults (n = 132) -- to address their high rates of recidivism.