NCJ Number
142721
Date Published
1992
Length
79 pages
Annotation
This manual provides an overview of how to implement a promising court approach to the youth gang problem.
Abstract
The manual's intended audience is the presiding and other judges within the juvenile court. The court model presented in the manual provides guidelines for administering gang cases and suggests how judges can spearhead or participate in community initiatives designed to address the gang problem. The model favors a community- oriented approach by the court. It is predicated on the assumption that a multistrategy approach by the court is required to fulfill its dual mission of protecting the community and resoclializing delinquent gang youth. The model proposes that judges, because of their stature in the community and their ability to leverage resources, should assume responsibilities beyond their traditional role of processing and sentencing gang youth. The manual is divided into seven sections that present guidelines and activities the presiding judge may have to implement to conduct a program of this nature. The sections cover assessment of the youth gang problem; setting goals and strategies; implementation of organizational development; court functions and issues; community mobilization; judicial selection, training, and education; and research and evaluation. Appended sample problem assessment guidelines, probation supervisory arrangement, presentence investigation report, gang-related court order, parental effectiveness training, and court administrative order