NCJ Number
36798
Date Published
1974
Length
68 pages
Annotation
THIS JUVENILE EARLY INTERVENTION AND DIVERSION PROJECT PROVIDES ONE-TO-ONE VOLUNTEER ADULT SUPERVISION FOR COURT AND POLICE-REFERRED FIRST OFFENDERS IN DENVER, COLORADO, ARRESTED FOR IMPACT CRIMES.
Abstract
THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON REDUCING COURT REFERRAL AND PROBATION OFFICER CASELOADS WHILE STIMULATING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. IT RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND PROVIDES A SYSTEM OF SUPERVISION AND ACTIVITIES FOR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO COMMIT THEMSELVES FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE HOURS PER WEEK WITH REFERRED YOUNGSTERS. THIS REPORT GIVES AN OVERALL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS AND EXPLAINS THE SPECIFIC PROJECT DESIGN, METHODS OF PROJECT STAFFING, PERSONNEL, POLICIES, ADMINISTRATION, AGENCY COMMUNICATION, RECRUITMENT, AND TRAINING. INCLUDED ARE SEVERAL CASE HISTORIES OF PROBLEMS FACED BY JUNIOR AND SENIOR PARTNERS AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THESE PROBLEMS WERE HANDLED. AN OBJECTIVE-BY-OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS REVEALS THAT THE MAJOR FIRST YEAR PROGRAM GOAL OF MATCHING 300 EARLY OFFENDERS WITH ADULT VOLUNTEERS WAS NOT MET. DUE TO A SLOW REFERRAL RATE, ONLY 197 YOUTH-VOLUNTEER UNITS WERE MATCHED. A HIGH (70) TERMINATION RATE WAS ALSO INDICATED AS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM AREA. OVERALL, HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM APPEARED TO HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN EDUCATING AND INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, REDUCING RECIDIVISM, AND LESSENING THE BURDEN ON THE COURTS. SUPPORTIVE MATERIAL AND PROGRAM TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED AND INDEXED IN THE APPENDIX.