NCJ Number
49053
Date Published
1976
Length
22 pages
Annotation
A COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS WHO HAVE NOT BENEFITED FROM SUPERVISED PROBATION BUT WHOSE BEHAVIOR DOES NOT WARRANT PLACEMENT IN A STATE INSTITUTION IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE WINCHESTER, VA., JUVENILE PROBATION HOUSE PROVIDES THE COURT WITH A SENTENCING ALTERNATIVE FOR SECOND- AND THIRD-TIME JUVENILE OFFENDERS THAT EXCEEDS THE SUPERVISION OF PROBATION WITHOUT SUBJECTING YOUTHS TO THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE-SCALE INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS. ALL YOUTHS ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM ARE MALES AGED 14 TO 17 WHO HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED DELINQUENT. PLACEMENT IN THE PROGRAM RANGES FROM 12 TO 24 WEEKS. RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A STRUCTURED GROUP-LIVING EXPERIENCE AND UNDERGO AN INTENSIVE PROGRAM OF INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY THERAPY. DURING THEIR STAY AT PROBATION HOUSE, YOUTHS ADVANCE THROUGH FIVE STAGES. PROGRESS IS EVALUATED WEEKLY, AND RESIDENTS DEVELOP WEEKLY CONTRACTS WITH THEIR COUNSELORS THAT DESCRIBE THE GOALS TO BE ATTAINED DURING THE COMING WEEK. THE OPERATIONS OF THE PROGRAM ARE SUMMARIZED, AND THE PROGRAM IS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF ACHIEVEMENT OF STATE PLAN GOALS, AGENCY GOALS, AND PROJECT GOALS, AND DIRECTION AND COORDINATION. THE PROGRAM IS RATED 'GOOD' (ABOVE AVERAGE IN MOST AREAS, WITH NO MAJOR INADEQUACIES) ON EACH CRITERION. IT IS NOTED THAT, OF 40 YOUTHS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM, 8 HAVE HAD FURTHER ENTANGELMENTS WITH THE LAW.