HENRICO (VA) COURT ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM - PILOT SERIES PRE AND POST-EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 19498
• Author(s): J M WILSON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Virginia Council on Narcotics and Drug Abuse Control
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS OF QUESTIONNAIRES ADMINISTERED TO THE 16 PARTICIPANTS (6 CLIENTS, 8 PARENTS, 2 FACILITATORS) IN THIS PILOT PROJECT FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS CHARGED WITH NON-SEVERE DELINQUENT ACTIVITIES.

Abstract

THE HENRICO COUNTY COURT ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY 1975 AS AN ARM OF THE PROBATION-PAROLE DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE HENRICO COUNTY COURTS SYSTEM. THE RATIONALE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION EXPRESSES THE NEED IN HENRICO COUNTY FOR AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM COMBINED WITH FAMILY AND GROUP COUNSELING WHICH COULD FUNCTION AS A REHABILITATIVE ORGANIZATION FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS. ALSO, IT IS DESIGNED TO SERVE AS A FAMILY-ORIENTED PROGRAM WHICH WOULD SEEK TO EASE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMATIC PROBLEMS OF JUVENILE DRUG ABUSE. PRE- AND POST- PROGRAM QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. AN ANALYSIS OF THE RESPONSES INDICATED THAT PARTICIPANTS HAD SOME DIFFICULTY RELATING THE INFORMATION PRESENTED TO THEIR PERSONAL AND FAMILY SITUATION. CLIENTS INDICATED THAT FACILITATOR PERFORMANCE WAS SATISFACTORY, AND THAT PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM HAD EASED FAMILY PROBLEMS. PARENTS FELT THAT THE LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM WAS A LITTLE SHORT, WHILE PARTICIPATING JUVENILES INDICATED THAT THE TIME WAS ABOUT RIGHT. PARTICIPANTS ALSO NOTED A GENUINE IMPROVEMENT IN FAMILY LIFE THAT HAD NOT BEEN EXPECTED AT THE OUTSET OF THE PROGRAM. SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRES AND TABULATED RESPONSES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)