Featured Scholars : Roger Jarjoura

Associate Professor and Director of Criminal Justice Programs
IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs
rjarjour@iupui.edu

Dr. Roger Jarjoura’s research on juvenile offenders motivated him to create a program to reduce recidivism. His Aftercare for Indiana through Mentoring (AIM) program, launched in 1996 at the Plainfield Juvenile Correctional Facility, pairs juvenile offenders with college students and community volunteers who serve as mentors offering advice on jobs, health, education, social skills and money management.

The mentors help each participant set goals for the future and create a plan for re-entry into the community upon their release. After their release, AIM volunteers continue to stay in contact with the youth through phone calls, planned programs and one-on-one activities. With the support of the Indiana Department of Correction, Dr. Jarjoura expanded AIM to serve youth statewide.

Evaluation of the program reveals a significant drop in the recidivism rate of participating Indianapolis- area youth. Over four years, only 28% of those who fully participated in the program were reincarcerated compared with a 62% reincarceration rate for those who did not participate. The data further indicates that participants are more likely to continue their education and get a job. In fact, 20 of the program's participants have enrolled in IUPUI.

The AIM program is an excellent example of how faculty at IUPUI are TRANSLATING their RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.