NCJ Number
91891
Date Published
1983
Length
63 pages
Annotation
Witnesses focused on the New Pride program in New Jersey for juvenile offenders, an alternative to incarceration predominantly for minority youths between 14 and 17 that uses community resources for support and counseling. Also examined were restitution programs.
Abstract
A congressman from New Jersey summarized Federal involvement in delinquency prevention efforts and New Jersey's New Pride replication program that strives to improve school achievement, employment opportunities, and social functioning for juvenile offenders. He also discussed restitution programs and criticized proposed Federal budget cuts in delinquency prevention programs. A judge from New Jersey's Supreme Court with considerable experience in juvenile matters emphasized that effective programs endorsed by the court, such as home detention and group homes, had been closed recently by budget cuts. A panel of witnesses from the New Pride program, including the director of its alternative school and students, described participants' characteristics, services provided, recidivism rates, and costs. A probation officer from Camden County, N.J. described its juvenile restitution program which has collected over $35,000 on behalf of victims over 5 years of operation and seen juveniles complete over 17,000 unpaid hours of community service. An official from the N.J. Department of Corrections discussed their efforts to eliminate large training schools and develop alternative programs. He emphasized the need for programs that make juveniles feel they can accomplish something, such as New Jersey's initiatives using juvenile offenders to renovate historic buildings and old juvenile correctional facilities. Witnesses' prepared statements are included.