NCJ Number
147831
Date Published
1971
Length
26 pages
Annotation
The Midcity Project, a community antidelinquency program in Boston, is reviewed.
Abstract
The project involved two major efforts: 1) empowerment of citizens' groups so that they may take charge of their local problems; and 2) coordination of professional agencies involved with juveniles. From June 1954 to May 1957, seven project field workers maintained contact with 400 juveniles aged 12 to 21 who belonged to 21 corner gangs. All the workers were professionally trained. All but one devoted attention primarily to a single group; they paid intensive attention to seven of the gangs, that comprised 201 of the juveniles. A tracking of the juveniles' violative behavior-- disapproved or illegal acts, court appearances, etc.-- suggested that the project had a negligible impact. There were modest decreases in 14 areas delinquent behavior, but only a 2.3-percent decrease in the 13 other areas. 2 figures, 43 endnotes