NCJ Number
123203
Date Published
1989
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The typical approach toward juvenile delinquent activity taken by the U.S. Marine Corps Military Police offices has usually been reactive, consisting of short-terms efforts; previously used proactive efforts have been limited to various forms of crime prevention awareness. This paper describes a creative approach taken by the Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, California, following a concentration of juvenile criminal activity during the summer of 1989.
Abstract
Criminal activity in the dependent housing area in July 1988 was met with convention reactive enforcement, consisting of increased patrol and investigative activity. Although there was a marked decline in the level of complaints, the same pattern was repeated the following July. The Provost Marshall's Office implemented a juvenile program in which a military policeman was assigned as juvenile specialist. Removed from ordinary law enforcement posture, this officer, dressed in civilian clothing, spent peak hours in the housing area close to juvenile activity, functioning as a peacekeeper. The juveniles respected the officer as a problem-solver, while parents were able to express their concerns to an impartial mediator. The juvenile officer recorded his daily activity; the names of all juveniles he encountered were catalogued and entered into a series of block matrices that integrated information collected from other sources. Link analysis using this data tracked juvenile activity, and identified leaders and new trends. The level of complaints during the first three months of the program decreased by almost two-thirds over the previous year and the number of expended manhours decreased by the same proportion. The report recommends the creation of an organized juvenile program, mandated with standard operating procedures. 2 figures.