NCJ Number
56019
Date Published
1979
Length
21 pages
Annotation
A PREADJUDICATORY JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE NASHUA, N.H., DISTRICT COURT IS DESCRIBED AND ASSESSED.
Abstract
THE NASHUA INTAKE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO DIVERT JUVENILES TOWARD COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. THE PROGRAM SCREENS EACH CASE SCHEDULED FOR COURT DISPOSITION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE JUVENILE CAN BE BETTER SERVED THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN A COUNSELING AND REFERRAL PROCESS THAN THROUGH TRADITIONAL JUVENILE COURT ADJUDICATION. THE PROGRAM ALSO HANDLES SELF-REFERRALS AND A SMALL NUMBER OF REFERRALS FROM AGENCIES OUTSIDE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. APPROXIMATELY 60 PERCENT OF ALL CASES SCREENED BY THE INTAKE STAFF ARE REFERRED TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES. IN ITS FIRST 17 MONTHS OF OPERATION (THROUGH AUGUST 1977), THE INTAKE UNIT PROCESSED 383 CASES. FROM SEPTEMBER 1977 THROUGH AUGUST 1978, 450 JUVENILES WERE SCREENED. TWENTY-NINE OUTSIDE AGENCIES, PRIVATE CONCERNS, AND GROUPS OF PROFESSIONALS PROVIDE SERVICES TO INTAKE CLIENTS. AS OF JUNE 1978, THE PROGRAM'S RECIDIVISM RATE WAS 13 PERCENT. THE CUMULATIVE RECIDIVISM RATE IS ESTIMATED AT 10 TO 11 PERCENT. THE INTAKE PROGRAM OFFERS SEVERAL ADVANTAGES TO BOTH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE INDIVIDUAL CLIENT. IT HANDLES A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF CASES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD REQUIRE FORMAL ADJUDICATION IN THE COURT, PROVIDES 24-HOUR CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES, SUPERVISES THE PAYMENT OF RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS IN MANY CASES, AND FACILITATES LINKAGES BETWEEN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. CLIENTS BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM'S COORDINATION OF THESE RESOURCES IN THEIR BEHALF, FROM FOLLOWUP SERVICES, AND FROM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM PRECLUDES FURTHER ACTION FROM THE COURT. THE PROGRAM HAS PROVED HIGHLY WORKABLE, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE ABUNDANCE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES IN NASHUA. DETAILS OF INTAKE PROCEDURES, DESCRIPTIONS OF PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY AGENCIES, AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED.