COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMES IN VICTORIA (FROM DELINQUENCY IN AUSTRALIA - A CRITICAL APPRAISAL, 1977, BY P R WILSON - SEE NCJ-59612)

• NCJ Number: 59621
• Author(s): A BOROWSKI; J O HARRIS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Queensland Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAMS OF COMMUNITY TREATMENT UNITS IN THE AUSTRALIAN STATE OF VICTORIA ARE DESCRIBED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENT ARE OFFERED.

Abstract

THE HISTORY OF COMMUNITY-BASED JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS IN VICTORIA HAS BEEN BRIEF, BUT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BEEN RAPID. THE VICTORIAN DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE INTRODUCED ITS FIRST YOUTH WELFARE SERVICE (YWS) IN THE MELBOURNE INNER-EASTERN SUBURB OF HAWTHORN IN 1971. SINCE THAT TIME, THREE COMMUNITY TREATMENT UNITS (CTUS) HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. A FIFTH PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED UNDER VOLUNTARY AUSPICES, BUT WITH CONSIDERABLE STATE FUNDING. A RECENT STUDY OF POPULATION ON ONE OF THE YWS'S OVER A 12-MONTH PERIOD INDICATED THAT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION, 25 PERCENT WERE WARDS OF STATE, 19 PERCENT WERE WARDS OF STATE ON PROBATION, 54 PERCENT WERE PROBATIONERS ONLY, AND 2 PERCENT WERE PAROLEES FROM A YOUTH TRAINING CENTER. THE PROGRAMS OF THE CTUS ARE BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT DELINQUENCY STEMS FROM A YOUTH'S PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE AND THE IMMEDIATE INFLUENCES OF HIS ENVIRONMENT. INTERVENTION STRATEGIES ON BEHALF ON THESE DELINQUENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE YOUNGSTER'S SCHOOL OR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE PEER GROUP IS UTILIZED IN FACILITATING CHANGE, AND AN ADVOCACY ROLE IS ASSUMED BY THE CTU'S STAFF TO SECURE A SERVICE OR TO OBTAIN A LEGAL ENTITLEMENT FROM THE POLICE OR OTHER AGENCY OR INDIVIDUAL. THE INTERVENTIONS OF THE CTU'S MAY BE CHARACTERIZED AS A DIRECT SERVICE-ORIENTED APPROACH. THE CTUS HAVE GENERALLY CULTIVATED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COURTS AND MAGISTRATES, WITH COMMUNITY TREATMENT STAFF HAVING A HIGH FREQUENCY OF REPRESENTATION AT COURT ON BEHALF OF JUVENILES. THE NUMBER OF UNITS AND THE DIVERSITY OF THEIR PROGRAMS HAS MEANT THAT COURT REFERRALS HAVE AT TIMES BEEN INAPPROPRIATE. LIAISON BETWEEN THE COURTS AND THE COMMUNITY UNITS MUST BE CLOSER TO FACILITATE EFFECTIVE REFERRALS TAILORED TO THE SERVICES OF THE UNITS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND EVALUATION DESIGNS IS RECOMMENDED. (RCB)