NCJ Number
46096
Date Published
1972
Length
44 pages
Annotation
A DAY TREATMENT CENTER FOR GIRL RECOMMENDED BECAUSE THEY SEEMED HEADED FOR COMMITMENT TO THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY IS DESCRIBED; THE INTENSIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM HAS HAD A 70 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE.
Abstract
THE GIRLS UNIT FOR INTENSIVE DAYTIME EDUCATION (GUIDE) FOR DELINQUENT GIRLS WAS ESTABLISHED IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. TEN GIRLS ARE ACCEPTED AT A TIME AND UNDERGO AN INTENSIVE ACADEMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT PROGRAM RUN BY A FULL-TIME TEACHER WITH PROBATION EXPERIENCE AND A FULL-TIME PROBATION OFFICER. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED SELF-CONCEPTS, INCREASED SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE, AND INSIGHT INTO FAMILY PROBLEMS AS WELL AS IMPROVED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES BUDGETING, HOME ECONOMICS, AND SOME INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. MOST OF THE FAMILIES ARE MARKEDLY DISTURBED. THESE, TOO, ARE OFFERED STANDARD PROBATION SERVICES AND INTENSIVE HELP AT TIMES OF STRESS. EXTENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION IS DONE ON EACH GIRL AT TIME OF ENTRY AND MIDWAY THROUGH THE 50-WEEK, 5-DAY-A-WEEK PROGRAM, AS WELL AS AT TIME OF GRADUATION. GENERALLY IT APPEARS THAT THE NEW STUDENT HAS A DISTURBED VIEW OF HERSELF AND THE WORLD, TOGETHER WITH LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTROL HERSELF AND RELATE TO HER OWN FEELINGS. THE INTENSIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM SEEMS TO DEVELOP GREATER SELF-CONTROL AND GREATER ABILITY TO COPE WITH A DISTRESSING ENVIRONMENT. ALTHOUGH THE GIRLS AVERAGED THREE APPEARANCES IN JUVENILE COURT BEFORE REFERRAL TO THE PROGRAM, 70 PERCENT NEVER GET INTO TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE AGAIN. RESULTS OF TESTING AND DETAILS OF THE PROGRAM ARE DESCRIBED. (FOR RELATED MATERIALS SEE NCJ-46093, NCJ-46094, AND NCJ-46095.) (GLR)