NCJ Number
107298
Date Published
1985
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This workshop summary describes a model for police juvenile units in California.
Abstract
An effective juvenile bureau or unit should have written policies encompassing goals, mission, personnel training, responsibilities, and procedures for interaction with other agencies. Staff should be selected on the basis of experience, training, years of service, and motivation. The bureau should be responsible for investigating all cases involving juveniles, including delinquency, child abuse, runaway, and missing child cases. Prevention programs, particularly those in cooperation with schools, offer the potential for developing community pride and creating a positive school environment, as well as preventing delinquency. Guidelines should be developed for formal and informal dispositions. Specialized education and training for juvenile officers should include basic areas such as the juvenile justice system, interviewing and investigative techniques, legal education, and juvenile psychology. Advanced training should cover networking, community resource development, teaching techniques, and child abuse training. A workshop agenda and list of participants are appended.