NATIONAL EVALUATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTERS FIELD TEST IMPLEMENTATION STUDY

• NCJ Number: 65220
• Author(s): D I SHEPPARD; J A ROELL; R F COOK
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 309 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78NI-AX-0012
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice - LEAA; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Institute for Research
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT DISCUSSES THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUSTICE CENTERS (NJC) IN ATLANTA, KANSAS CITY, AND LOS ANGELES.

Abstract

THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS TOOK PLACE IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: (1) THE RECRUITING AND HIRING OF STAFF; (2) A STAFF TRAINING WORKSHOP HELD IN RENO; (3) DEVELOPMENT OF REFERRAL SOURCES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO DEVELOP AWARENESS OF THE PROGRAM; (4) THE HIRING OF VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS; (5) THE TRAINING OF MEDIATORS; AND (6) THE OPENING OF EACH NJC DURING MARCH, 1978. THE ATLANTA NJC BEGAN WITH THE FORMATION OF A PRIVATE NONPROFIT CITIZEN ORGANIZATION WHICH RESPONDED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S INTEREST IN FUNDING THESE CENTERS. THE PROJECT'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIRED AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PARTICIPATED IN SELECTING TARGET NEIGHBORHOODS. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECRUITED THE REMAINDER OF THE STAFF, AND AFTER THE PROJECT SITE WAS SELECTED, A MAJORITY OF CLIENTS WERE EXPECTED FROM THE COURT, AS WELL AS FROM THE LOCAL POLICE PRECINCT AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PROGRAM WOULD BE LOCATED IN THE COURTS TO IDENTIFY PROSPECTIVE MEDIATION CASES. THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD) OF KANSAS CITY, MO., ADMINISTERED THE NJC AND HIRED A PROJECT DIRECTOR WHO HAD DIRECTED A PREVIOUS DISPUTE RESOLUTION EFFORT OPERATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE SELECTION OF STAFF AND MEDIATORS, WHILE THE CSD PROVIDED EARLY SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT. CLIENT REFERRALS WERE ELICITED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. THE NJC STAFF GAVE INTENSIVE TRAINING AND ORIENTATION SESSIONS TO EVERY POLICE OFFICER IN THE DISTRICT. THE LOS ANGELES NJC WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE VENICE AND MAR VISTA COMMUNITIES UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIRED A PROJECT DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, NARROWED DOWN THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL TARGET AREA SITES, AND FORMED SEVERAL SUBCOMMITTEES TO SELECT STAFF AND MEDIATORS AND TO SET POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. THIS COMMUNITY-ORIENTATED PROJECT ANTICIPATES THE MAJORITY OF ITS REFERRALS FROM THE COMMUNITY PROBLEMS WHICH MAY NOT REQUIRE MEDITATION. THE PROJECT ALSO PURSUES REFERRALS THROUGH POLICE, COURTS, PROSECUTORS, RADIO, TELEVISION, NEWSPAPERS, AND INDIVIDUALS. TABLES, FOOTNOTES, AND APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED.