HRD (HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT) APPROACH TO POLICE DIVERSION FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 43283
• Journal: Personnel and Guidance Journal Volume: 54 Issue: 8 Dated: (APRIL 1976) Pages: 435-438
• Author(s): T R COLLINGWOOD; H WILLIAMS; A DOUDS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: American Personnel and Guidance Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT TO DIVERT AND TREAT YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM (YSP) IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED. THE YSP HAS REDUCED JUVENILE RECIDIVISM.

Abstract

THE OVERBURDENED JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVES WHICH WILL HELP PREVENT A JUVENILE FROM FURTHER LAW VIOLATIONS. THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT YSP IS BASED ON A HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (HRD) MODEL EMPHASIZING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND INTELLECTUAL SKILLS. WHILE IT IS A PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S YOUTH SECTION AND IS STAFFED BY OFFICERS AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL, THE YSP ALSO INCLUDES A COUNSELING UNIT COMPOSED OF 13 COUNSELORS SUPERVISED BY A COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST. COUNSELORS ARE CHOSEN ACCORDING TO THEIR HRD PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND INTELLECTUAL SKILLS, AND COUNSELORS AND POLICE OFFICERS ALIKE IN THE YSP RECEIVE EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN INTERPERSONAL AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS. ELIGIBLE YOUTHS INCLUDE FELONS, MISDEMEANANTS, FIRST OFFENDERS, AND REPEAT OFFENDERS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 16. VOLUNTARY COMMITMENT BY A YOUTH AND HIS/HER PARENT IS REQUIRED. EACH YOUTH ASSIGNED TO A COUNSELOR UNDERGOES A SYSTEMATIC THREE-STAGE PROCESS LASTING APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AND CONSISTING OF INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT AND TRAINING, AND FOLLOWUP. EACH OF THE HRD SKILLS AREAS IS APPLIED TO TREATMENT OF REFERRED YOUTH IN A SKILLS TRAINING GROUP LASTING 16 HOURS; TOTAL CONTACT FOR EACH YOUTH IN THE YSP IS APPROXIMATELY 25-30 HOURS. RESULTS SHOW THAT, WHILE A CONTROL GROUP OF SIMILAR YOUTH HAD A 50.5 PERCENT RECIDIVISM RATE, THOSE YOUTHS WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD HAD A 2.7 PERCENT RATE. THE REDUCTION IN RECIDIVISM IS ATTRIBUTED TO THREE FACTORS: (1) THE POLICE-BASED NATURE OF THE PROGRAM; (2) THE EMPLOYMENT OF COUNSELORS WITHIN A LAW ENFORCEMENT SETTING; AND (3) THE HRD APPROACH TO TRAINING AND TREATMENT. AN ARRESTED YOUTH IS ABLE TO LEAVE THE YSP WITH SOME TANGIBLE SKILLS TO AVOID TROUBLE AND TO BE MORE SUCESSFUL IN HOME, SCHOOL, AND NEIGBORHOOD SITUATIONS.