NCJ Number
36857
Date Published
1975
Length
69 pages
Annotation
THIS PROGRAM, BEGUN IN JUNE 1974, WAS DESIGNED AS A MODEL FOR THE PRETRIAL DIVERSION OF JUVENILES, AGES 14-17, DESIGNATED AS CHILDREN IN NEED OF SUPERVISION OR ACCUSED OF CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
Abstract
PROGRAM SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO BOTH MALES AND FEMALES AND ARE DESIGNED TO INTERVENE IN THE ALLEGED DEVIANT BEHAVIOR OF REFERRALS. VOCATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND COUNSELING SERVICES ARE STRESSED TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPANTS TO RETURN TO SCHOOL OR TO PREPARE THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT. THIS IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE USE OF MODIFIABLE, BUT BINDING CONTRACTS BETWEEN PARENTS, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AND THE PROGRAM ITSELF. PARTICIPATION IN THIS VOLUNTARY PROGRAM IS USUALLY SET FOR 90 DAYS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF UP TO A SECOND 90 DAY PERIOD. THIS REPORT ASSESSES THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE JUVENILE SERVICES PROGRAM MEETS EACH OF THE EXEMPLARY PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA: GOAL ACHIEVEMENT, EFFICIENCY, REPLICABILITY, MEASURABILITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY. THE PROGRAM EVALUATION IS BASED ON ON-SITE INTERVIEWS AND OBSERVATIONS AND PROGRAM DOCUMENTATION AND DATA. EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROGRAM IS A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH A STRONG MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, HAS COLLECTED AND ANALYZED LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA, APPEARS TO HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH JUSTICE AND OTHER AGENCY PERSONNEL, AND PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMMING TO ALL CLIENTS. HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM'S EDUCATION COMPONENT HAD NOT RECEIVED ACCREDITATION, THE PROGRAM DEPENDED UPON THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES FOR 'PAPER SCREENING' OF REFERRALS, AND THE ONLY MEASURABLE POST PROGRAM EFFECTS SEEMED TO BE CONCENTRATED AMONG INFORMAL REFERRALS, RATHER THAN TRUE JUVENILE JUSTICE DIVERTEES. THE PROGRAM DID NOT RECEIVE AN EXEMPLARY DESIGNATION. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS SAMPLE PROGRAM FORMS AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION.