Theft
Shoplifting
Stealing
Burglary Car
Theft
"THEFT TALK"™ Works !
"THEFT TALK"™ Research
Other Research
"THEFT TALK"™ Research
"THEFT TALK"™ research demonstrates a high degree of success with both its prevention and counseling services.
To measure the effectiveness of the School Assembly Program "THEFT TALK"™ has undertaken a survey system. Schools which receive the "THEFT TALK"™ School Assembly are asked, among other questions, "Have you stolen anything within the last year?" These same students are resurveyed again one full year later.
After questioning 13,213 youth, "THEFT TALK"™ found 18% of 7th graders admit to stealing within the last year. For 8th graders the figure jumps to 26% who admit to stealing within the past year, (Yes, twenty six percent.) When providing the School Assembly service the goal is, of course, to reduce these figures.
The "THEFT TALK"™ School Assembly includes an in-service for teachers, a teachers manual, lesson plans, hallway signs, gifts for the student participants (complete with a reinforcing message), surveys and, most important: the assembly (an action-packed 40 minute presentation.)
To check on retention, the students received a six-week post presentation survey to measure how successful "THEFT TALK"™ was at transmitting its message. Typically 80 to 95% of the students recalled the critical messages, depending on how diligent the teachers were at following-up with the lesson plans provided.
One year after the School Assembly "THEFT TALK"™ returned to each school served and conducted a one-year-later survey. The purpose of this survey was to determine the change, if any, in the number of students who indicate they have stolen in the past year. (Survey format and questions were scrutinized and structured during a college class and by an instructor from Northwest Regional Laboratories.) The margin of error is low even though it is easy to lie on an anonymous questionnaire. The lie factor is rendered moot by the law of averages which predicts an equal number of liars in the pre and post tests.
The one year later data suggested a huge success. Approximately 25% of the students could not be located one year late (One year later sample size is 10041 students.) Of those located "THEFT TALK"™ found the 18% theft rate had been reduced to 10%. This 8% reduction in the number of reported thefts is further dramatized by the fact that these students are now one year older (8th graders) who, without intervention, would have had 26% admit to a theft in the previous year, which of course yields a 16% reduction in reported thefts.
The success of "THEFT TALK"™ is also substantiated by its offender groups. Independent studies show a youth between the ages of 14 and 17 who has been caught shoplifting has a 50% chance of re-offending within the first year. "THEFT TALK"™ graduates have only a 13% recidivism rate within one year. With and without "THEFT TALK"™ delineates a 37% difference between the two groups.
OTHER RESEARCH
Since Deschutes County Oregon started using "Theft Talk"™ in February of 1996, Deschutes County Juvenile Court, Bend Police Department; Redmond, LaPine and Sisters Juvenile Services Program have referred over 200 juveniles to "THEFT TALK"™. Deschutes County chose to set high standards and not exclusively rely on the consequences of community service, peer court and essays. At "THEFT TALK"™, we know the importance of holding a juvenile accountable with consequences, however, including the treatment component will help the child understand the wrongness behind their actions. "THEFT TALK"™ serves the child and simultaneously provides information to the parents which goes far beyond the traditional, "I hope it goes away," helpless attitude parents often experience.
Back to "THEFT TALK"™ In the control group, (those who did not receive "THEFT TALK"™) juveniles who experienced other consequences had 54% recidivism rate within the first year.
We have found that it is common for juveniles not to have fully grasped an empathic understanding of the impact their actions had on their victims, whether it be a store or a personal theft. The fact is, there is no better time to increase their level of empathy for others than when the child is in his or her childhood/adolescent formative years. This approach has proven its success with offenses such as Burglary, Shoplifting, UUMV, Criminal Mischief and Fraud.
Please call if you have any questions regarding our organization or wish to experience this standard of excellence.
Last updated:
"THEFT TALK"™ -- since 1983
"THEFT TALK"™ Counseling Service, Inc.
3705 SE 39th, Portland, OR 97202
(503) 771-2542 or 
Send e-mail to "THEFT TALK" ™ at questions@thefttalk.com
Copyright © 1998-2005 "THEFT TALK"™ Counseling Service Inc., All Rights Reserved
Theft
Shoplifting
Stealing
Burglary Car
Theft
"THEFT TALK"™ Works !
"THEFT TALK"™ Research Other Research
"THEFT TALK"™ Research
"THEFT TALK"™ research demonstrates a high degree of success with both its prevention and counseling services.
To measure the effectiveness of the School Assembly Program "THEFT TALK"™ has undertaken a survey system. Schools which receive the "THEFT TALK"™ School Assembly are asked, among other questions, "Have you stolen anything within the last year?" These same students are resurveyed again one full year later.
After questioning 13,213 youth, "THEFT TALK"™ found 18% of 7th graders admit to stealing within the last year. For 8th graders the figure jumps to 26% who admit to stealing within the past year, (Yes, twenty six percent.) When providing the School Assembly service the goal is, of course, to reduce these figures.
The "THEFT TALK"™ School Assembly includes an in-service for teachers, a teachers manual, lesson plans, hallway signs, gifts for the student participants (complete with a reinforcing message), surveys and, most important: the assembly (an action-packed 40 minute presentation.)
To check on retention, the students received a six-week post presentation survey to measure how successful "THEFT TALK"™ was at transmitting its message. Typically 80 to 95% of the students recalled the critical messages, depending on how diligent the teachers were at following-up with the lesson plans provided.
One year after the School Assembly "THEFT TALK"™ returned to each school served and conducted a one-year-later survey. The purpose of this survey was to determine the change, if any, in the number of students who indicate they have stolen in the past year. (Survey format and questions were scrutinized and structured during a college class and by an instructor from Northwest Regional Laboratories.) The margin of error is low even though it is easy to lie on an anonymous questionnaire. The lie factor is rendered moot by the law of averages which predicts an equal number of liars in the pre and post tests.
The one year later data suggested a huge success. Approximately 25% of the students could not be located one year late (One year later sample size is 10041 students.) Of those located "THEFT TALK"™ found the 18% theft rate had been reduced to 10%. This 8% reduction in the number of reported thefts is further dramatized by the fact that these students are now one year older (8th graders) who, without intervention, would have had 26% admit to a theft in the previous year, which of course yields a 16% reduction in reported thefts.
The success of "THEFT TALK"™ is also substantiated by its offender groups. Independent studies show a youth between the ages of 14 and 17 who has been caught shoplifting has a 50% chance of re-offending within the first year. "THEFT TALK"™ graduates have only a 13% recidivism rate within one year. With and without "THEFT TALK"™ delineates a 37% difference between the two groups.
OTHER RESEARCH
Since Deschutes County Oregon started using "Theft Talk"™ in February of 1996, Deschutes County Juvenile Court, Bend Police Department; Redmond, LaPine and Sisters Juvenile Services Program have referred over 200 juveniles to "THEFT TALK"™. Deschutes County chose to set high standards and not exclusively rely on the consequences of community service, peer court and essays. At "THEFT TALK"™, we know the importance of holding a juvenile accountable with consequences, however, including the treatment component will help the child understand the wrongness behind their actions. "THEFT TALK"™ serves the child and simultaneously provides information to the parents which goes far beyond the traditional, "I hope it goes away," helpless attitude parents often experience.
Back to "THEFT TALK"™ In the control group, (those who did not receive "THEFT TALK"™) juveniles who experienced other consequences had 54% recidivism rate within the first year.
We have found that it is common for juveniles not to have fully grasped an empathic understanding of the impact their actions had on their victims, whether it be a store or a personal theft. The fact is, there is no better time to increase their level of empathy for others than when the child is in his or her childhood/adolescent formative years. This approach has proven its success with offenses such as Burglary, Shoplifting, UUMV, Criminal Mischief and Fraud.
Please call if you have any questions regarding our organization or wish to experience this standard of excellence.
Last updated:
"THEFT TALK"™ -- since 1983
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"THEFT TALK"™ Counseling Service, Inc.
3705 SE 39th, Portland, OR 97202 (503) 771-2542 or