NCJ Number
47656
Date Published
Unknown
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE OBJECTIVES, RESEARCH FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MONTANA YOUTH JUSTICE COUNCIL TASK FORCE ON DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE MAJOR GOAL OF THE TASK FORCE WAS TO DEVELOP A DELINQUENCY PREVENTION POLICY FOR MONTANA WHICH DEFINES DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, PROVIDES A BASIS FOR PROGRAM FUNDING, DEVELOPS PROPOSED LEGISLATION, AND MANDATES EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THE TASK FORCE IDENTIFIED FOUR MAJOR OBJECTIVES TO THIS END: (1) TO MAKE SPECIFIC JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS TO EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS; (2) TO MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO EMPLOYERS, UNIONS, AND PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES CONCERNING YOUTH ACTIVITIES; (3) TO MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE HEALTH PROFESSION AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC CONCERNING HEALTH AND JUVENILE CRIME RELATIONSHIPS; AND (4) TO PROMOTE COORDINATION AMONG EXISTING STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND PRIVATE AGENCIES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A UNIFIED POLICY. TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES, A SERIES OF HEARINGS AND STUDIES WAS UNDERTAKEN IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND EMPLOYMENT. TASK FORCE FINDINGS IN EACH OF THESE AREAS ARE PRESENTED AS THEY PERTAIN TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE FOUR OBJECTIVES. EXTENSIVE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THESE FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAMS BE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED, THAT EMPHASIS BE PLACED ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES WHICH STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY UNIT, THAT LEARNING SITUATIONS WHICH PROVIDE POSITIVE AND SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING PROBLEMS BE DEVELOPED, THAT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COUNSELING PERSONNEL BE FLEXIBLE, THAT STUDENTS BE PERMITTED A GREATER DECISIONMAKING ROLE IN SCHOOL AFFAIRS, AND THAT BETTER AND MORE RELEVANT TRAINING BE PROVIDED FOR YOUTH SERVICES PROFESSIONALS. IN THE AREA OF EMPLOYMENT, SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROVIDED PERTAINING TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CAREER EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND VOCATIONAL PLACEMENT. SCHOOLS SHOULD DEVELOP MORE RELEVANT HEALTH AND NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE, AND REFERRAL INFORMATION SHOULD BE DISSEMINATED. MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS SHOULD BE USED TO THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL IN THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF TROUBLED YOUTH. FINALLY, A STATE CLEARINGHOUSE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE STATEWIDE POLICY AND PROGRAM COORDINATION. (JAP)