HAMDEN JUVENILE EVALUATION AND DIVERSION PROJECT - A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES

• NCJ Number: 46125
• Journal: Journal of Clinical Child Psychology Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (WINTER 1977) Pages: 98-101
• Author(s): T A REID; P W GARNER; T R TONDO
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: American Psychological Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT NATIONAL COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS CONVENTION, WASHINGTON, DC., FEBRUARY 1975

Annotation

THE HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT, JUVENILE EVALUATION AND DIVERSION PROJECT (JEDP) IS DESCRIBED. THE JEDP REPRESENTS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF THE HAMDEN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE (HMHS) AND THE YOUTH DIVISION (YD).

Abstract

ALTHOUGH INFORMAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT YD AND THE HMHS HAD BEGUN IN 1971, PRIMARILY ON A CONSULTATIVE BASIS, THE JEDP WAS NOT FORMALIZED UNTIL THE RECEIPT OF FUNDING IN 1972 FROM LEAA. MAJOR GOALS OF THE JEDP INITIALLY INVOLVED THE ACQUISITION OF MORE PRIVATE AND ACCESSIBLE YD FACILITIES, THE EVALUATION AND FORMALIZATION OF IMPROVED DECISIONMAKING CRITERIA, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REFERRAL CHANNELS BETWEEN THE YD AND THE HMHS, THE CULTIVATION OF ADDITIONAL REFERRAL RESOURCES TO MEET THE GROWING VOLUME OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS, AND THE FORMALIZATION OF DISPOSITIONAL AND DIVERSION CRITERIA. DURING 1971-1972, A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE DIVERSION OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS FROM THE COURT SYSTEM TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES WAS SEEN. THE ATTEMPT TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REFERRAL RESOURCES WAS HOWEVER LARGELY UNSUCCESSFUL, AND CONSEQUENTLY A FUNDING GRANT WAS USED TO ESTABLISH THE YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU (YSB). THE YSB WAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING OUTREACH COUNSELING SERVICES FOR DELINQUENT ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, PARTICIPATING IN THE JEDP BOARD, AND RECRUITING ADDITIONAL REFERRAL RESOURCES, PARTIALLY THROUGH PURCHASE OF SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS. THROUGH THE YSB, A FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN DIVERSIONS WAS SEEN. IN 1976 THE INITIATION OF A STRUCTURED SYSTEM FOR ISSUING WARNINGS TO YOUTHS FOR MINOR OFFENSES THROUGH THE JEDP RATHER THAN THROUGH THE POLICE WAS INSTITUTED, AND APPEARS TO HAVE RESULTED IN A LOWER RATE OF RECIDIVISM. A PRELIMINARY FOLLOWUP STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE 1974 PROGRAM INDICATES THAT OF JUVENILES CHARGED WITH COMMITTING A MISDEMEANOR, THOSE WHO SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED SOME FORM OF TREATMENT THROUGH THE HMHS WERE LESS LIKELY TO COMMIT ANOTHER OFFENSE DURING THE NEXT YEAR THAN THOSE JUVENILES WHO RECEIVED ONLY AN INFORMAL WARNING FROM POLICE OR WHO WERE REFERRED SOLELY TO JUVENILE COURT. EVALUATIONS OF THE 1975 AND 1976 PROGRAMS ARE IN PROGRESS. METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS SUGGEST CAUTION IN INTERPRETING RESULTS AND AN IMPROVED RESEARCH DESIGN IS BEING INSTITUTED. FUTURE PLANS INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SYSTEMATIC SCREENING COMPONENT AND THE ADDITION OF SPECIALIZED TREATMENT SERVICES FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)