NCJ Number
11517
Journal
POLICE LAW QUARTERLY Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (OCTOBER 1973) Pages: 28-39
Date Published
1973
Length
12 pages
Annotation
EFFECTIVENESS OF A SOCIAL SERVICE UNIT IN THE WHEATON, ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH UTILIZES SOCIAL WORKERS AS A MEASURE FOR JUVENILE COURT DIVERSION.
Abstract
THE SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECT (SSP) IS AN ACTION-RESEARCH PROJECT SPONSERED BY THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE SERVICES TO NON-VIOLENT MISDEMEANANTS AND DELINQUENT JUVENILES IN THE FORM OF SOCIAL ASSESSMENTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CLIENT, A 24-HOUR CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTER, COUNSELING AND GROUP THERAPY, AND REFERRAL TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES. THE STUDY SHOWS THAT ON JUNE, 1970, REFERRALS TO JUVENILE COURT FROM THE WHEATON POLICE DEPARTMENT DECLINED 41 PERCENT FROM 1969 TO 1971 WHILE THEY INCREASED 32 PERCENT FROM 16 OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE SAME COUNTY (DUPAGE) WITHOUT SOCIAL SERVICE UNITS. WHEN CHANGING NUMBERS OF JUVENILES IN THE POPULATION AND CONTACTS WITH JUVENILE OFFICERS WERE HELD CONSTANT, THE DECREASE AT WHEATON REMAINED SUBSTANTIAL. JUDGMENTS BY A PANEL OF JUVENILE OFFICERS INDICATED THAT THE SSP HAD ACCOUNTED DIRECTLY FOR 35 PERCENT OF THE CONTROLLED DECREASE. THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDITIONAL REDUCTION DUE TO SECONDARY EFFECTS OF THE SSP IS EXPLORED. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SSP IN REDUCING REFERRALS TO THE JUVENILE COURT IS DEMONSTRATED, INDICATING THE POTENTIAL USE OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS IN REDEFINING PROBLEMS OF YOUTH AND DEALING WITH THEM MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN HAS BEEN THE CASE IN THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)