Police Initiatives in Juvenile Justice (From Preventing Juvenile Crime Conference Proceedings No. 9, 1991, P 89-92, Julia Vernon, Sandra McKillop, eds. -- See NCJ-135877)

• NCJ Number: 135887
• Author(s): J McDonald
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

The restructuring of the New South Wales Police Service is described in relation to juvenile crime prevention.

Abstract

The perception of the role of police by the public, particularly regarding juvenile offenders, is in the process of changing from enforcement to crime prevention and protection of life and property. The most significant aspect of the restructuring occurred in the diminishment of the command hierarchy's authority and extension of it to the patrol commanders. This enabled them to direct people to take a problem solving approach to preventing and reducing juvenile crime. Some of the new initiatives of the Child Protection Program include juvenile crime prevention workshops, a general duties police youth program, and information dissemination about underage drinking. The program focuses on a problem solving approach to police and youth issues, has the police officer serve as an advocate for young peoples issues, and serves as a liaison with the schools. Within the program a variety of approaches are used to reflect the local need, especially the social factors.