NCJ Number
26546
Date Published
1975
Length
150 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND DETENTION FACILITY DESIGNED TO REDUCE JUVENILE ARRESTS BY 50 PERCENT, ELIMINATE DETENTION OF JUVENILES IN THE COUNTY JAIL, AND ELIMINATE DETENTION FOR STATUS OFFENSES.
Abstract
OTHER GOALS OF THE PROGRAM WERE TO REDUCE BY 50 PERCENT THE NUMBER OF JUVENILES COMMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE STATE TRAINING SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE SOCIAL, ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE 'DAY CARE' SERVICES TO DELINQUENTS HAVING TROUBLE ON PROBATION. THE JUVENILE CENTER PROGRAM INVOLVED COUNSELING, EDUCATION, BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES, CLASSIFICATION OF JUVENILES, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INTAKE PROCEDURES, THE RECEPTION PROGRAM, THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, THE EDUCATION PROGRAM, DAY CARE PROGRAM, VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND PERSONNEL ARE PROVIDED. THE EVALUATION SHOWED THAT FEWER THAN 50 PERCENT OF RELEASED YOUTH WERE REARRESTED, THAT STATUS CASES WERE ELIMINATED FROM JUVENILE DETENTION, AND THAT THE GOAL IN REDUCTION OF COMMITMENTS WAS NEARLY REACHED. MAJOR PROBLEMS SUCH AS RUNAWAYS, DAMAGES, INADEQUATE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY WERE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF OPERATION, BUT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES AND STAFF TRAINING AIDED IN ELIMINATING THESE PROBLEMS. THE GOALS OF ENDING JUVENILE JAIL DETENTION, PROVIDING COMMUNITY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND GIVING PROBATION 'DAY CARE' WERE NOT MET. HOWEVER, THE EDUCATION PROGRAM OF THE CENTER AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT TRAINING WERE FOUND TO BE VERY SATISFACTORY. THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER POTENTIAL, AND PROGRAM EXPENDITURES ARE DISCUSSED, AND PROGRAM STATISTICS ARE INCLUDED.