St. Pierre, W. (n.d.). Changing Lives through Literature: New Bedford Evaluation.

St. Pierre, W. (n.d.). Changing Lives through Literature: New Bedford Evaluation.

Author Affiliations: Probation Officer, New Bedford District Court
Artforms: Bibliotherapy, Literature
Program: New Bedford, Massachusetts Changing Lives Through Literature (CLTL) Program Description: The New Bedford CLTC program has completed six cycles of students since 2001. Seminars involve 8-10 weekly sessions each lasting two hours and involving 6-10 single-gender students, most of whom are court-involved. Some programs are with halfway houses. Texts include The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and The Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer for girls and Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen and The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien for boys. Seminars usually end with a class project.
Program (Study) Location: New Bedford, Massachusetts
Study Published: n.d.
Participant Type: Adult male probationers
Sample Size: 68
Data Type: Quantitative: Analysis of criminal activity
Evaluation Focus: Misdemeanors, felonies, criminal activity, recidivism

Summary of Impact:
The analysis of 10 consecutive CLTL seminars that took place from April 1991 through January 1995 found:
●  Overall 68% decrease in criminal activity by probationers after completing the program.
●  Reduction in number of felonies ranged from 70.8% to 100% depending on the group.
●  Reduction in the number of misdemeanors ranged from 24% to 100%.