DADE COUNTY (FL) - AN EVALUATION OF THE IMPACTS OF FIVE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION/DIVERSION PROGRAMS

• NCJ Number: 66458
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 153 pages
• Corporate Author: Metropolitan Dade Cty
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT EVALUATES THE IMPACT OF FIVE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS MONITORED BY THE DADE-MIAMI, FLA., CRIMINAL JUSTICE COUNCIL FOR THE DADE COUNTY OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION.

Abstract

THE FIVE PROGRAMS PROVIDE YOUTH WITH RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND IN SOME INSTANCES, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. THE EVALUATION WAS BASED ON PERSONAL INTERVIEWS, REVIEW OF CLIENT FILES, OBSERVATIONS, AND REVIEW OF CONTRACT DOCUMENTS. CLIENTS, STAFF, AND SPONSORING AGENCY STAFF WERE ALL SURVEYED. EVALUATION TECHNIQUES INCLUDED A CLIENT-WORKER INTERRELATIONSHIP SCALE, A SOCIAL DYSFUNCTION RATING SCALE, AND YOUTH SELF-REPORTS. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE PROGRAMS PROVIDED ADULT MODELS, CULTURALLY ENRICHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH, A CHANCE TO DEVELOP JOB SKILLS AND EARN MONEY, AND A STIMULUS FOR ENHANCING THE AREA COMMUNITY NETWORK RELATING TO GENERAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. NEVERTHELESS, THE PROGRAMS PRODUCED LITTLE DEMONSTRATED REDUCTION IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. IN ADDITION, THEY TENDED TO PULL INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM SOME YOUTH WITH LITTLE NEED FOR INTERVENTION AND PRODUCED NO EVIDENCE REGARDING PREVENTION. A LITERATURE REVIEW ALSO INDICATED THAT SUCH PROGRAMS WOULD HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON DELINQUENCY OF YOUTH WHO HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO HAVE CONTACTS WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AS CONSTITUTED, THESE PROGRAMS CANNOT REDUCE DELINQUENCY BUT DO PROVIDE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND PERHAPS REDUCE OR PREVENT DELINQUENCY IN THE LONG RUN. A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MODEL BASED ON THE FIVE PROGRAMS' STRENGTHS INCLUDES ADULT SUPERVISION, FOSTERING OF A SENSE OF USEFULNESS AND COMPETENCE, CLIENT RECRUITMENT, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND COUNSELING. RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN THE EXISTING PROGRAMS INCLUDE NARROWING OF GOALS TO REFLECT LIMITED RESOURCES, IMPROVED DOCUMENTATION, AND EFFORTS TO FOSTER GENERAL COMMUNITY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. FOOTNOTES WHICH INCLUDE REFERENCES, TABLES, A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND APPENDIXES PRESENTING STUDY INSTRUMENTS AND ADDITIONAL DATA, ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)