REASONABLE ALTERNATIVE - COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE FOR STATUS OFFENDERS THROUGH VOLUNTARY AGENCY COLLABORATION

• NCJ Number: 52270
• Author(s): K W BURKHART
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 63 pages
• Corporate Author: National Assembly of National Voluntary Health and Social Welfare Organizations, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; National Assembly of National Voluntary Health and Social Welfare Organizations, Inc
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE COLLABORATION OF 16 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PILOT PROJECTS DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION FOR STATUS OFFENDERS IS DOCUMENTED.

Abstract

THE PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ORIGINALLY CAME TOGETHER TO PROMOTE PASSAGE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY ACT FORMED A TASK FORCE WHICH OBTAINED LEAA FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES AT FIVE SITES: TUCSON, ARIZ., SPOKANE, WASH., OAKLAND, CALIF., SPARTANBURG, S.C., AND NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT. THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AT BOTH THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS AND THE ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PILOT PROJECTS ARE DESCRIBED IN A NARRATIVE INTERSPERSED WITH CASE STUDIES, QUOTES FROM PROJECT WORKERS, AND PHOTOGRAPHS. THE COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS INVOLVED SUCH AGENCIES AS THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, GIRL SCOUTS, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE, THE SALVATION ARMY, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, THE ASSOCIATION OF JUNIOR LEAGUES, AND OTHERS. IN SPARTANBURG, THE COLLABORATIVE GROUP TOOK OVER AND EXPANDED A STATE-RUN 'JAIL WATCH' PROGRAM, WHICH WAS SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS HELD IN JAIL AND THE NUMBER OF HOURS SPENT IN JAIL BY YOUTHS WHO WERE DETAINED. IN OAKLAND, SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO GIRLS WHO HAD RUN AWAY OR WERE CONSIDERING RUNNING AWAY, AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO STAY IN SCHOOL WERE IMPLEMENTED. IN CONNECTICUT, 'PROJECT CHALLENGE' CONDUCTED 10-DAY OUTDOOR EXCURSIONS FOR YOUTHS WHO WERE HAVING TROUBLE IN SCHOOL. TUCSON, ARIZ., AGENCIES ENGAGED YOUNGSTERS IN NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. IN SPOKANE, THE COLLABORATIVE GROUP RECRUITED AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS IN CRISIS INTERVENTION FOR A 24-HOUR SERVICE FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNGSTERS IN TROUBLE. THESE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE DESCRIBED, WITH EMPHASIS ON COLLABORATIVE TECHNIQUES THAT PROVED SUCCESSFUL. GUIDELINES FOR ORGANIZATIONS DESIRING TO UNDERTAKE SIMILAR PROJECTS ARE OFFERED. (LKM)