POLITICS OF DELINQUENCY PREVENTION - THE URBAN LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM (FROM CHILDREN OF ISHMAEL - CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON JUVENILE JUSTICE, 1978, BY BARRY KRISBERG AND JAMES AUSTIN - SEE NCJ-47012)

• NCJ Number: 47016
• Author(s): B KRISBERG
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Mayfield Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE URBAN LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED, REASONS FOR ITS DEMISE ARE CITED, AND PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE NATURE OF THE PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

THE AIM OF THE URBAN LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM WAS TO TRAIN 22 YOUNG BLACK GANG LEADERS TO BE EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE TRAINEES WERE PUBLIC SCHOOL DROPOUTS WITH A COMBINED ARREST RECORD OF 175 CONTACTS WITH THE LAW. THEIR EMPLOYMENT RECORD WAS TRANSITORY AND UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT THEY ALL DISPLAYED LEADERSHIP ABILITIES THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCES AS GANG LEADERS. THEY WERE TRAINED AT A LOCAL UNIVERSITY IN ECONOMICS, SOCIOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS, CRIMINOLOGY, LAW, COMMUNITY HEALTH, POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND BLACK STUDIES IN A 21-WEEK FULL-TIME COURSE. THEY RECEIVED A SALARY OF $80 PER WEEK. THE PROJECT'S AIM WAS TO REDIRECT THE ABILITIES AND ENERGIES OF THESE HARDCORE DELINQUENTS. THE PROGRAM WAS TAPED DAILY AND SHOWN TO COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE TRAINING PROGRAM ENDED WITH A WEEK'S ALL-EXPENSE-PAID TRIP TO PUERTO RICO, AN ELABORATE PROM, AND A GRADUATION CEREMONY. AFTER THE GRADUATES HAD BEEN WORKING AT THEIR COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR 6 WEEKS, THE FUNDING OF THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION WAS CUT BACK, THUS REDUCING THE SALARIES. THE GRADUATES CONSEQUENTLY FELT BETRAYED; SEVERAL RETURNED TO THEIR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, AND TWO BECAME HEAVY NARCOTICS USERS. THE PROGRAM WAS GENERALLY PERCEIVED AS A FAILURE. THE BASIC REASONS FOR THE DOWNFALL OF THE PROGRAM ARE CHRONIC BUDGET PROBLEMS, INSUFFICIENT EFFORTS TO PROVIDE JOB PLACEMENT FOR THE GRADUATES, AND THE FAILURE TO PREPARE THE TRAINEES FOR A POSSIBLE COLLAPSE OF THE PROGRAM. THE UNIVERSITY'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROGRAM WAS COMMENDABLE, SHOWING SINCERITY IN DEALING WITH COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. IT IS NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE UNIVERSITY ALSO USED THE PROGRAM TO PLACATE THE ADJOINING LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS PURPOSES. THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION HOPED TO USE THIS PROGRAM TO GAIN SOME INFLUENCE OVER THE GANGS, WHICH WERE INCREASING IN STRENGTH AND MILITANCY, AND ALSO TO EXTEND ITS INFLUENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE GROUP OF PROGRAM GRADUATES SERVED AS NEGOTIATORS, WHO BECAME WELL-VERSED IN RHETORIC THAT WOULD APPEAL TO INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE. EVEN THOUGH THE PROJECT WAS INTENDED TO CREATE MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DELINQUENTS, WELL-MEANING STAFF MEMBERS ACTUALLY BENEFITED MOST. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (BAC)