NCJ Number
68722
Date Published
1975
Length
51 pages
Annotation
THIS IS A SECOND-YEAR (1975) REPORT ON THE POLICE-TO-PARTNERS DIVERSION PROJECT IN DENVER, COLO., FUNDED BY LEAA, IN WHICH TRAINED VOLUNTEERS ESTABLISH MEANINGFUL ONE-TO-ONE RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUTH WHO HAVE CONTACT WITH POLICE.
Abstract
THE PROJECT CLIENTS ARE DRAWN FROM THE FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM. THE PROJECT EMPHASIZES AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO CRIMINAL ACTION. THE OFFENDER (JUNIOR PARTNER) AND A VOLUNTEER SENIOR PARTNER AGREE TO SPEND AT LEAST 3 HOURS A WEEK TOGETHER FOR A YEAR IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A STRONG FRIENDSHIP AS A GOAL. THIS DIVERSION AWAY FROM JUVENILE COURT LESSENS THE COURT CASELOAD. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO HANDLE 300 YOUNGSTERS PER YEAR. THEY ARE REFERRED TO PARTNERS PRIMARILY THROUGH THE CITY'S FOUR YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS OPERATING IN EACH QUADRANT OF THE CITY. THIS REPORT EXPLAINS THE PROJECT DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES, AS WELL AS PROGRAMMATIC ADJUSTMENTS MADE DURING THE YEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROJECT DESIGN ASSUMES THAT IMPACT OFFENDERS ARE THE FIRST PRIORITY; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN OUTNUMBERED BY NONIMPACT OFFENDERS (WHO HAVE COMPOSED 80 PERCENT OF THE CLIENTS) DUE TO SCARCITY OF REFERRALS OF FIRST-TIME FELONS. METHODS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THEY INCLUDE MEDIA EXPOSURE, PERSONAL PRESENTATIONS, AND OTHER RECRUITMENT EFFORTS TO ATTRACT VOLUNTEERS. TRAINING OF THE VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING ATTENDANCE AT A DETENTION HEARING AT JUVENILE HALL, IS ALSO DESCRIBED (A 1-WEEK TRAINING SCHEDULE IS INCLUDED AS A SAMPLE). THE ROLE OF COUNSELORS WHO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR MATCHED JUNIOR AND SENIOR PARTNERS AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY TO LEAA, IS EXAMINED. THE YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY THE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING PROCESS (E.G., RIVER RAFTING AND SKIING) ARE DESCRIBED. SEVERAL NARRATIVE ACCOUNTS OF PARTNERSHIPS ARE PROVIDED. RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM, OBTAINED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH CLIENTS, CONTROL YOUTHS, AND VOLUNTEERS, ARE ENUMERATED. MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE PROVIDING ONE-TO-ONE ADULT SUPERVISION FOR 235 EARLY OFFENDERS, EDUCATING 1,014 AREA CITIZENS ABOUT THE CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND CONDUCTING ONGOING LONGITUDINAL AND TIME-LIMITED RESEARCH ON THE PARTNER'S PROGRAM. PROBLEM AREAS INCLUDE RECRUITMENT OF MINORITY VOLUNTEERS, THE DELAY BETWEEN REFERRAL AND MATCHING, AND HIGH TERMINATION RATE. TABULAR DATA INCLUDED.