Three Years of Youth Participation in the Community (From Preventing Juvenile Crime Conference Proceedings No. 9, 1991, P 11-20, Julia Vernon, Sandra McKillop, eds. -- See NCJ-135877)

• NCJ Number: 135879
• Author(s): J Engel
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

The Youth and the Law Project is described as an example of a successful community crime prevention initiative in New South Wales in which the young people are the primary agents.

Abstract

It is based on the belief that many juvenile crimes are committed because of unfulfilled needs of the young people. In this project, young people identify a particularly pressing problem in the particular region, research the background to the problem, decide on various solutions to the problem, plan a project to implement the solution, and implement the solution. The key to success in the project lies in the five main areas. Young people, as adults, are participating in action on real issues. They are running the project and exercising their independence as well as taking risk in a positive environment. The success of the project is owned by the participants, yet the community benefits from the project and also sees a positive image of the young people willing to work and improve the area.