NCJ Number
205794
Date Published
April 2004
Length
41 pages
Annotation
This report profiles an innovative local program, operated by the Kings County (Brooklyn, NY) District Attorney's Office, which aims to reduce young offenders' criminal recidivism, subsequent adult criminality, and self-destructive behaviors.
Abstract
The program, entitled Youth and Congregations in Partnership (YCP), relies heavily on religious organizations to work with youth. The program's primary activity is the mentoring of youth ages 13-19 by adult volunteers recruited from religious organizations in Brooklyn. Although relying on members of religious congregations to act as mentors, the program is nonsectarian and forbids the proselytizing of youth for membership in the religious groups involved. The program is built on a partnership between the District Attorney's Office and local faith-based organizations. Established in 1997, YCP has been part of the National Faith-Based Initiative for High-Risk Youth since 2000; this is a multisite demonstration program developed and managed by Public/Private Ventures. This report details the origins and development of the YCP and describes its operational and maintenance features. These include the recruitment of congregations; the selection of YCP participants and matching them with congregations; the selection, training, reporting, and support of mentors; and reaching out to families. Also described are the YCP Advisory Committee, the YCP relationships with the criminal justice community, and YCP partner organizations. A section on the mentoring experience explains the structuring of the team approach and the dynamics of the mentoring relationship. 14 notes and appended list of sites and lead agencies in the National Faith-Based Initiative for High-Risk Youth