NCJ Number
169903
Date Published
Unknown
Length
41 pages
Annotation
The Robeson County (N.C.) Juvenile Task Force was examined in terms of its structure, actions, procedures, costs, and effectiveness and the implications for a general model that other communities can use and adapt to carry out their own juvenile intervention strategies.
Abstract
The task force is a community effort to provide juvenile intervention before court action becomes necessary. It focuses on preventing disruptive juvenile behavior in the community and enabling schools to emphasize their educational mission. The task force consists of law enforcement juvenile specialists who are guided by an executive board and coordinated via the sheriff's department. Local police agencies implement the strategy. Study information was collected by means of interviews of individuals from the task force and reviews of documents, procedures, and data. Results revealed that the task force is efficient, economical, and effective in addressing juvenile problems. It saved the juvenile court system more than $108,000 in court costs alone in 1992. Training school admissions declined significantly in 1992 and achieved a savings of at least $442,000. One township reported that breaking and entering incidents declined sharply. Nearly $40,000 was saved in juvenile detention costs. Findings indicated that the crucial elements in the task force's effectiveness are the executive board, the ability to make relevant decisions and support them with policy and resources, and the willingness to commit to countywide action. Tables, map, footnotes, index, and appended background information