NCJ Number
55785
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 28-33
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A PILOT PROGRAM AT ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL, SIMI VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA, IS DESCRIBED. BOTH STUDENTS AND JUVENILE JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS PARTICIPATE IN THIS ATTITUDE CHANGE PROGRAM.
Abstract
THIS HIGH SCHOOL HAD CRIME PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THOSE FOUND IN OTHER RAPIDLY-GROWING CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES. THE SIMI VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT RECORDED YEARLY INCREASES IN JUVENILE FELONIES. VENTURA COUNTY PROBATION DATA INDICATE THAT IN THE SIMI VALLEY AREA ABOUT 35 JUVENILES ARE REFERRED FOR PROBATION EACH MONTH WITH ABOUT 100 RECEIVING ONGOING SUPERVISION AT ANY ONE TIME. THE PROJECT BEGAN BY RANDOMLY SELECTING 100 STUDENTS TO MEET OFF-CAMPUS WITH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND PROBATION OFFICERS TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS IN THE SCHOOL AND IN THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE FELT THEY HAD LITTLE INFLUENCE ON EITHER SCHOOL RULES OR COMMUNITY LAWS. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ALSO USED TO IDENTIFY STUDENT PROBLEMS. FROM THESE INITIAL EFFORTS CAME A SERIES OF SEMINARS, WITH POLICE AND PROBATION OFFICERS PARTICIPATING. A PEER COUNSELING PROGRAM, COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOPS, AND A NUMBER OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SPAINISH-AMERICAN POPULATION AND TO INVOLVE ALL STUDENTS IN SCHOOL MATTERS HAVE RESULTED. NO DATA HAS BEEN COLLECTED ON THE IMPACT OF THIS STUDENT FEEDBACK SYSTEM ON DELINQUENCY RECIDIVISM AND THE LIKE, BUT STUDENT ATTITUDES HAVE IMPROVED MARKEDLY. (GLR)