NCJ Number
25259
Date Published
1974
Length
50 pages
Annotation
THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO ENABLE LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO HANDLE MINOR JUVENILE PROBLEMS AND PREVENT FURTHER ACTS OF DELINQUENCY WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP.
Abstract
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE JUVENILE COURT, COMMUNITIES DEVELOP SPONSOR GROUPS ORGANIZED BY CITIZEN LEADERSHIP AND MADE UP OF A BROAD REPRESENTATION OF ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES, AND DEDICATED CITIZENS CONCERNED WITH YOUTH. THE SPONSORING ORGANIZATION INFORMS THE COMMUNITY OF ITS OWN PROBLEMS, SEEKS TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH, AND DEVELOPS SERVICES AND PROGRAMS LOCALLY TO ASSIST THOSE WHO NEED THEM. ONCE THE DECISION IS MADE TO ESTABLISH A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, SIX TO TEN CONCERNED CITIZENS ARE NOMINATED, SCREENED, ORIENTED, AND TRAINED. THEY ARE APPOINTED BY THE JUVENILE COURT AND WORK UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A COURT EMPLOYEE WHO ACTS AS A CONSULTANT TO THE COMMITTEE. REFERRALS OF MINOR DELINQUENCIES ARE DIRECTED TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEES BY AUTHORIZED PUBLIC AGENCIES SUCH AS POLICE, SCHOOLS, PARK DEPARTMENTS, AND OTHER ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. CHILDREN AND PARENTS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE RECEIVE A LETTER GIVING THEM THE CHOICE OF APPEARING BEFORE THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE OR AT JUVENILE COURT. AS A RESULT OF MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEE, THE CHILD AND FAMILY MAY BE REFERRED TO A COMMUNITY AGENCY OR TO JUVENILE COURT, ARRANGEMENTS MAY BE MADE FOR RESTITUTION OR COUNSELING, OR A PROGRAM IN THE COMMUNITY MAY BE RECOMMENDED. APPENDED TO THIS RECOMMENDATION REPORT IS A COPY OF THE 1973 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)