NCJ Number
48517
Date Published
1977
Length
117 pages
Annotation
A PRETRIAL DIVERSION AND COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR FIRST-OFFENDER JUVENILES AND THEIR FAMILIES IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE PRIMARY OPERATIONAL GOAL OF THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER PROGRAM (YOP) IS TO PROVIDE A DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR FIRST-OFFENDER JUVENILES WHO NORMALLY WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE KING COUNTY JUVENILE COURT OR OTHER AGENCIES. INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING IS OFFERED TO THE JUVENILES AND THEIR PARENTS REFERRED BY THE KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE EVALUATION, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE IF THE PROJECT WAS MEETING GRANT OBJECTIVES, INVOLVED THE USE OF QUESTIONNAIRES, PERSONAL INTERVIEWS, AND ONSITE OBSERVATIONS OF YOP OPERATIONS AT EACH PRECINCT. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY PERSONNEL, THE YOP SUPERVISOR AND STAFF, AND DIRECTORS AND STAFFS FROM OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY. QUESTIONNAIRES WERE FIELD TESTED PRIOR TO THEIR USE. IT IS GENERALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE YOP HAS ACCOMPLISHED ITS STATED GRANT OBJECTIVES, IN SOME CASES WITH EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS. THE YOP IS CONSIDERED EFFECTIVE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: THE PROVISION OF A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO EITHER REFERRING YOUTHS TO JUVENILE COURT OR RELEASING THEM UNDER THE 'ADVISE AND WARN' PROCEDURE; THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A RAPID RESPONSE TIME IN CONTACTING JUVENILES AND THEIR FAMILIES; THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GOOD RAPPORT WITH THE POLICE; AND THE PROVISION OF AN IMMEDIATE AND PREVENTIVE-TYPE COUNSELING AND REFERRAL SERVICE FOR JUVENILES AND THEIR FAMILIES. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A CLEARER DEFINITION OF PRIMARY MISSION, ACHIEVING BETTER CONTROLS FOR REFERRAL CLIENTS, USING SKILLED VOLUNTEERS, PERFORMING MORE LIAISON ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND CHANGING THE NAME OF THE PROGRAM TO AVOID USING THE LABEL 'OFFENDER.' THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION, RESPONSES TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, DETAILED DESCRIPTIVE DATA OF THE POPULATION, AND A LITERATURE SEARCH.