CALIFORNIA - EVALUATION OF YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS

• NCJ Number: 12146
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 223 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-71-137
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: California Dept of the Youth Authority
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

EXAMINATION OF THE OBJECTIVES, ASSUMPTIONS AND ACTIVITIES OF JUVENILE COMMUNITY BASED TREATMENT AND DIVERSION AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA.

Abstract

THIS STUDY'S PURPOSE WAS TO EVALUATE YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS IN CALIFORNIA. OBJECTIVES WERE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE BUREAUS COULD DIVERT JUVENILES OUT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, COORDINATE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND REDUCE DELINQUENCY IN THE AREAS SERVED. INCLUDED IN THE REPORT ARE AN OVERALL EVALUATION OF THE BUREAUS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA'S YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS ACT OF 1968 AND SEPARATE ANALYSES OF TEN YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS. EVALUATION METHODS INCLUDED DESIGNING AND MAINTAINING AN INFORMATION SYSTEM ON YOUTH SERVED, OBTAINING SERVICE AREA DELINQUENCY STATISTICS, OBSERVING PROGRAMS, INTERVIEWING PROJECT STAFF AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BUREAUS CONDUCTING SUPPLEMENTARY EVALUATIONS. NUMEROUS EVALUATION FINDINGS ARE LISTED. A SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS STATES THAT, BY PROVIDING SERVICES FOR YOUTH, MOST OF THE FIRST YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS IN CALIFORNIA WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN DIVERTING YOUTH OUT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. MOREOVER, THE PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE IS THAT DELINQUENCY WAS REDUCED IN THE BUREAU SERVICE AREAS. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN IN-DEPTH EVALUATIONS OF TEN CALIFORNIA YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)