NCJ Number
28015
Date Published
1975
Length
34 pages
Annotation
THE OFFICE'S ROLE IS TO INVOLVE VOLUNTEERS IN ENHANCING CRITICAL AREAS OF COURT SERVICES AND IN EXPANDING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF THE ROLE, FUNCTION, CLIENT NEEDS, AND SERVICES OF THE PHILADELPHIA FAMILY COURT.
Abstract
THE PRINCIPAL OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES OF THE SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICE ARE TO: PROVIDE CONCRETE INFORMATION ON RESOURCES USEFUL TO CLIENTS, JUDICIAL OFFICERS, AND OTHER COURT PERSONNEL IN EFFECTING CASE DISPOSITIONS, ESPECIALLY DISPOSITIONS OF A NON-INCARCERATING NATURE AND TO PROVIDE VOCATIONAL SKILL-DEVELOPMENT AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR JUVENILES. IT ALSO PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION TO SELECTED JUVENILE OFFENDERS AS ADDITIONAL TREATMENT FACETS TO PROBATION AND OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OF THE COURT AND PROVIDES SELECTED SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES TO OTHER COURT UNITS AS NEEDED AND AS COMPATIBLE WITH THE MAJOR GOAL OF THE PROJECT. THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICE DURING THE PERIOD EVALUATED (JULY 1974 TO FEBRUARY 1975) INCLUDE AN INFORMATION UNIT REGARDING AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, A YOUTH EMPLOYMENT UNIT, A ONE-TO-ONE YOUTH-VOLUNTEER RELATIONSHIP UNIT (STEPS UNIT), OVERALL COORDINATION OF OFFICE ACTIVITIES, AND PROVISION OF SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES. SUCH SERVICES THIS YEAR HAVE INCLUDED THE PLACEMENT OF INTAKE ASSISTANTS IN THE COURT INTAKE UNIT AT THE YOUTH STUDY CENTER, PROBATION INTERNS IN VARIOUS PROBATION OFFICES, AND RESEARCH AIDES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COURT PROGRAMS ANALYST, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT AND STAFFING OF A REMEDIAL READING TUTORING PROGRAM. EVALUATION INVOLVED A CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF MONTHLY REPORTS, VERIFIED AND EXPANDED BY ACCESS TO RAW DATA STORED IN THE OFFICE FILES, INTERNAL PROGRAM ANALYSES OF SPECIAL AREAS (SUCH AS THE FOLLOW-UP STUDY ON USES MADE OF INFORMATION CENTER SERVICES, REMEDIAL READING, SCREENING OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT REFERRALS, ETC.), AND CASE RECORDS ON RANDOMLY SELECTED CLIENTS. ADDITIONAL EVALUATION ACTIVITIES INVOLVED ON-SITE OBSERVATION OF CLIENT SERVICES BEING DELIVERED, STAFF-VOLUNTEER MEETINGS, AND DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM VOLUNTEERS AND CLIENTS IN ALL UNITS OF THE PROGRAM. THIS FEEDBACK WAS BASED ON CONFIDENTIAL INTERVIEWS WITH 26 VOLUNTEERS, WRITTEN SURVEY RESPONSES FROM ANOTHER 22 VOLUNTEERS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH 15 GENERALLY REPRESENTATIVE YOUTH RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND STEPS UNITS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)