NCJ Number
53371
Date Published
1978
Length
179 pages
Annotation
IMPACT AND PROCESS EVALUATIONS OF LEAA'S WISCONSIN JUVENILE JUSTICE PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (WJJPDC), AN EXEMPLARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROJECT, ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE CENTER BEGAN WITH AN 18-MONTH LEAA GRANT IN SEPTEMBER 1976. THE EVALUATION CONSIDERS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CENTER. THE PROGRAM HAS THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS: (1) PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT COURSES, (2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND (3) RESOURCE PROGRAM. THE PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT DRAWS ON A WIDE POOL OF EXPERT RESOURCES FOR ITS TRAINING FACULTY, CONSISTING OF TEACHERS, TRAINERS, CONSULTING SPECIALISTS, AND PRACTITIONERS. BASIC COURSES AND WORKSHOPS ARE PRESENTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT MADISON AND WAUSAU; E.G., HUMAN SERVICES COURSE, REALITY THERAPY. THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES FIVE BASIC FORMS OF ASSISTANCE: (1) PROGRAM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, (2) DEVELOPING INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM, (3) INFORMATION SHARING ON CENTER ACTIVITIES, (4) CONFERENCE/WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS, AND (5) CONFERENCE PLANNING. THE RESOURCE PROGRAM COLLECTS READING MATERIALS, FILMS, AND AUDIOCASSETTES ON TOPICS SUCH AS JUVENILE/CRIMINAL JUSTICE, JUVENILE COURT INTAKE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. INFORMATION THEN IS MADE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS AND AGENCIES INVOLVED IN JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMMING. THE EVALUATION WAS PERFORMED USING NINE ACTIVITIES FORMS COMPLETED BY PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, ROLES AND PROCEDURES WERE DEFINED. IT WAS FOUND THAT 78.2 PERCENT OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT COURSES STATED THAT THE COURSES WERE USEFUL TO THEIR WORK SITUATION. ONLY A THIRD, HOWEVER, FELT THAT THE TRAINING AFFECTED AGENCY OPERATIONS. IT WAS FOUND THAT 95 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS FELT THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS BENEFICIAL; 73 PERCENT INDICATED THEY WOULD USE THE CENTER AGAIN. FINALLY, 90 PERCENT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AGENCIES RECEIVING DATA FROM THE RESOURCE PROGRAM USED THE INFORMATION AND WOULD USE IT AGAIN. EXEMPLARY PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDE REPLICABILITY, MEASURABILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND ACCESSIBILITY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE CENTER HAS DEMONSTRATED THE EFFICACY OF A UNIVERSITY-BASED, COMMUNITY-ORIENTED TRAINING PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THE DIVERSE REQUIREMENTS OF TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL JUVENILE JUSTICE AGENCIES, AND THAT THE APPROACH CAN BE ADAPTED TO A STATEWIDE AND MULTISTATE PROGRAM. A FOLLOWUP SURVEY WAS PERFORMED. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED. EXTENSIVE TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MOFIDIED--MLC)