NCJ Number
59856
Date Published
1978
Length
111 pages
Annotation
THE VANCOUVER (CLARK COUNTY, WASH.) STATUS OFFENDER PROGRAM PROVIDES IMMEDIATE CRISIS INTERVENTION COUNSELING FOR YOUTHS AND THEIR FAMILIES RATHER THAN DETENTION.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM HOPED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STATUS OFFENDERS DETAINED, COMMITMENTS FOR INCARCERATION UNTIL THE YOUTH COULD BE SEEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FORMAL PETITIONS, AND RECIDIVISM. BEFORE THE PROGRAM BEGAN YOUTHS OFTEN WERE DETAINED SEVERAL DAYS AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT WITH A SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES COUNSELOR. NOW A PROBATION OFFICER SEES THE YOUTH AT INTAKE AND EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO FIND A COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION OR RETURN THE YOUTH HOME. A LIMITED NUMBER OF BEDSPACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO REFUSE TO GO HOME. COMPARISON OF DATA FROM 1974 WITH THAT FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF PROGRAM OPERATION (JULY 1976 THROUGH JUNE 1977) SHOWS THAT THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS DETAINED DROPPED FROM AN AVERAGE OF 56 PER MONTH TO 37 WHILE PETITIONS DROPPED FROM 23 PER MONTH TO 17 AND THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS INSTITUTIONALIZED FROM 1.4 PER MONTH TO ZERO. A TIME SERIES AND A MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS INDICATE THE PROGRAM AFFECTED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THE CHANGE IN DETENTION AND PETITION FIGURES BUT THAT THE RATE OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION WOULD PROBABLY HAVE DECLINED TO ZERO WITHOUT INTERVENTION. RECIDIVISM RATES, DEFINED AS COURT CONTACT FOR A STATUS OR DELINQUENT OFFENSE, DECLINED FROM 47.6 PERCENT TO 39.8 PERCENT AT THE 8-MONTH LEVEL. TABLES EXAMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFENDERS AND GIVE OTHER STUDY DATA. APPENDIXES ANALYZE THE VANCOUVER JUVENILE COURT AND DETAIL THE STUDY METHODOLOGY. (GLR)