NCJ Number
78964
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The rationale and techniques for developing positive relations between police and runaway youth programs are discussed.
Abstract
It is to the mutual benefit of runaway programs and police to work together in dealing with the problems and situations of runaway youths. The police in most communities have a statutory responsibility to handle runaways and other status offenders who may be served by runaway programs. This inevitably means that police will focus on the clients of runaway programs, and the work of both the police and the staff of the runaway center can be facilitated by the cultivation of a positive cooperative relationship. The first step in nourishing such a relationship should be taken by the center staff. It should involve meeting with the ranking juvenile officer in the police department of the center's jurisdiction. Through such a meeting, an understanding and acceptance of the separate policies out of which the center and the police deal with runaway youths can be produced. After gaining the suport of the ranking juvenile officer for the essential elements of the center's work, contact should also be made with the line officers assigned to juvenile problems, so that good relationships are established with those most likely to deal directly with center clients. Officers should be encouraged to visit the center informally to get a feel for the center's operations and its clients. When disagreements arise between the police and individual clients or center policy, an effort should be made to resolve the conflict rather than permit it to foster adversarial postures.