NCJ Number
53856
Date Published
1977
Length
37 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY PROVIDES THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND STATE AND PRIVATE AGENCIES WITH INFORMATION ON COURSES THAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROGRAMS SHOULD TAKE BASED ON PROFESSIONALS' RESPONSES TO A SURVEY.
Abstract
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, EDUCATORS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, YOUTH SERVICES PERSONNEL, PRIVATE YOUTH AGENCIES STAFF, COURT PERSONNEL, SOCIAL WORK PERSONNEL, ADULT INMATES, AND A NUMBER OF CITIZENS. IN ALL, 287 RESPONSES WERE OBTAINED. THEY INDICATE THAT THESE PERSONS BELIEVE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES ASSIGNED TO JUVENILE COURT SHOULD MEET MIMIMUM STANDARDS IN TERMS OF THEIR BACKGROUND IN YOUTH-RELATED AREAS; PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP AND FUND EARLY IDENTIFICATION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN'S IMPAIRMENTS ARE AMONG THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS; AND INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO REWARD YOUTHS FOR NOT VIOLATING THE LAW ARE INAPPROPRIATE. RESPONSES ARE BROKEN DOWN BY TYPES OF RESPONDENTS, AND AN ANALYSIS OF INTERCORRELATIONS AMONG THE 21 PRINCIPAL QUESTIONS OF THE SURVEY IS PRESENTED. SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) NEW IDEAS CAN BE GENERATED BY PROFESSIONALS IN A FIELD AND SUBSEQUENTLY EVALUATED IN TERMS OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS OR PRACTICALITY AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY WOULD RECEIVE SUPPORT BY INTERESTED PARTIES; (2) A POWER BASE THROUGH CONSENSUS COULD BE DEVELOPED ONCE THE PROGRAMS RECEIVING WIDE SUPPORT ARE IDENTIFIED; AND (3) NEW PROGRAMS MIGHT HAVE A LOWER RISK VALUE IF THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY SEVERAL OF THESE GROUPS OF PROFESSIONALS. NOTES, STUDY DATA, AND THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)