NCJ Number
91408
Date Published
1982
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Two presentations discuss how community support was obtained for juvenile restitution programs in Louisville, Ky., and Quincy, Mass., with particular attention to media coverage.
Abstract
Community support for restitution programs is usually forthcoming when citizens understand that restitution is a means for holding offenders accountable while providing compensation for their victims. A community board composed of citizens entrusted with obtaining job sites for restitution clients is an important means of involving citizens in the program and thus increasing the likelihood of community support. Communtiy service is particularly appealing to citizens because it involves provision of tangible service to the community at limited taxpayer cost. In the Louisville program, citizen complaints about using public funds to pay offenders for public work performed have been quieted by having parents of the offending juvenile provide the wages for the service performed. In Quincy, Mass., initial support for the juvenile restitution program was obtained by approaching the Chamber of Commerce for help in providing restitution jobs. This sponsorship helped in obtaining broader community support for the program. Public service projects, such as cleaning the beaches, are publicized in newspapers and on television, and the public relations staff of the program has been instrumental in developing film clips of program activities for use on television. Particular attention is given to communication with public officials, particularly in expressing gratitude to them for any contribution to the program. The favorable publicity for the program not only gains public support but also aids in building a support base for program funding. Workshop questions and answers are included.