Family preservation using multisystemic therapy: an effective alternative to incarcerating serious juvenile offenders

Original Simpsonville MST trial: n=84 serious juvenile offenders (chronic/violent) randomized to MST vs usual services. MST reduced rearrest (43% vs. 67%), out-of-home placement, and family conflict at 1-year follow-up. Cost-savings demonstrated. Foundational paper for MST as alternative to incarceration; replicated extensively but with diminishing effects in independent trials (see Littell 2005).