NCJ Number
55794
Date Published
1978
Length
108 pages
Annotation
PERCEPTIONS OF YOUTH SERVICE PROFESSIONALS IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, NEBR., REGARDING COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE REPORT OPENS WITH AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF JUVENILE COURT INVOLVEMENT IN THE PURSUIT OF ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON RESIDENTIAL CENTERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AND OTHER TROUBLED YOUTHS FOLLOWS. ON THE BASIS OF THE REVIEW, THE GOALS OF SUCH PROGRAMS ARE IDENTIFIED. A SURVEY OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF DOUGLAS COUNTY EXPERTS ON YOUTH-RELATED MATTERS REGARDING THESE GOALS IS DOCUMENTED. SURVEY RESPONDENTS INCLUDED COURT PERSONNEL, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, A YOUTH SERVICE ADVOCATE, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND EDUCATORS. RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED ABOUT THE APPROPRIATENESS OF VARIOUS GOALS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS, AND THE NEEDS OF EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS IN DOUGLAS COUNTY. THE LITERATURE REVIEW AND SURVEY FINDINGS INDICATE THAT WEAKNESSES OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AS ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION ARE TO BE FOUND IN THE AREAS OF GOAL AND TREATMENT SPECIFICITY, FUNDING, FACILITIES, STAFFING, AND EVALUATION. FURTHER RESEARCH IS RECOMMENDED. SUPPORTING DATA, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND A COPY OF THE SURVEY ARE PROVIDED. THE SIZE OF THE SURVEY SAMPLE IS NOT INDICATED.