NEW ORLEANS (LA) - YOUTH STUDY CENTER - FINAL EVALUATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 61801
• Author(s): R STERNHELL
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 37 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Louisiana Cmssn on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice; US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: New Orleans Mayor's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE LEAA-FUNDED YOUTH STUDY CENTER (YSC) OF NEW ORLEANS, LA., IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED; PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, THE RESEARCH DESIGN, PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, AND CONCLUSIONS ARE EMPHASIZED.

Abstract

THE YSC WAS IMPLEMENTED TO PROVIDE FOR THE DETENTION OF YOUTHS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ACTS WHO REQUIRE INCARCERATION PRIOR TO HEARING AND THE CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE YOUTHS FOR EVIDENCE OF EITHER PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER OR MENTAL RETARDATION. INHERENT IN THE OPERATION OF THE YSC'S DIAGNOSTIC UNIT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL DISORDER, MENTAL RETARDATION, AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY JUVENILES. SPECIFIC PURPOSES OF THE YSC ARE TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC WORKSHOPS TO THE NONDETAINED DELINQUENT BEYOND WHAT IS PRESENTLY AVAILABLE AND TO PROVIDE TREATMENT RESOURCES NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE JUVENILE OFFENDER. KEY ELEMENTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES INCLUDE FAMILY INTERVIEWS, PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING, INTERVIEWS WITH THE YOUTHS, AND PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION IF INDICATED. THE RESULTING REPORT, PROVIDING TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND A STATEMENT BY THE CASEWORKER, IS SENT TO THE COURT. THE YSC PROJECT EVALUATION FOCUSED ON SUCH QUESTIONS AS REFERRAL SOURCES, REASON FOR REFERRAL, NUMBER OF REFERRALS, PARENTAL COOPERATION, NUMBER OF YOUTHS TESTED, NUMBER OF PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSES, NUMBER OF COMPLETED EVALUATIONS, AND AVERAGE TIME INVOLVED. ALL DATA WERE OBTAINED EITHER FROM THE GRANT APPLICATION AND MONTHLY NARRATIVES, OR FROM YSC CASE FILES. FORMAL DATA COLLECTION TOOK PLACE DECEMBER 1977 THROUGH JANUARY 1978; 120 CASES WERE CONSIDERED. THE YSC WAS FOUND TO HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE GRANT IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MANNER. THOSE YOUTHS THAT APPEARED FOR SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS AND TESTS RECEIVED FULL CLINICAL EVALUATION, AND RECORDS AND BUDGET DOCUMENTS WERE IN ORDER. FUTURE STUDIES SHOULD ADDRESS ORGANIZATIONAL PROCEDURES; FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS NOT CLEAR WHY ALL YOUTHS REFERRED RECEIVE A DESIGNATION OF MENTAL DISORDER, MENTAL RETARDATION, OR BOTH. ANOTHER AREA OF CONFUSION IS WHY THE EVALUATION PRECEDES THE HEARING. FOOTNOTES AND TABULAR INFORMATION ARE INCLUDED.