CALIFORNIA - DEPARTMENT OF THE YOUTH AUTHORITY - THE SAN DIEGO DETENTION CONTROL STUDY, AUGUST 1974 - JULY 1975

• NCJ Number: 32745
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 41 pages
• Corporate Author: California Dept of the Youth Authority
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FINAL REPORT ON A PROJECT TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING IN THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY THROUGH DIVERSION OF LESS SERIOUS STATUS OFFENDERS - TRUANTS, RUNAWAYS, AND THOSE FOUND UNCONTROLLABLE IN HOME AND SCHOOL - FROM DETENTION.

Abstract

IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PROJECT GOALS, THE DETENTION CONTROL UNIT RECOMMENDS FOR DETENTION ONLY THOSE YOUTHS WHO ARE CHARGED WITH PROVABLE FELONIES. EVALUATION IS BASED ON REFERRAL DATA. RESULTS INDICATE THAT UNDER THE PROGRAM, THE AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDENCE AT THE DETENTION CENTER DROPPED BELOW CAPACITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS, WHILE JUVENILE ARREST RATES REMAINED ALMOST CONSTANT. RECIDIVISM, DEFINED AS RE-REFERRAL TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, WAS FOUND TO BE SLIGHTLY, BUT STATISTICALLY INSIGNIFICANTLY, LESS FOR THOSE INITIALLY DETAINED BEFORE RELEASE THAN FOR THOSE RELEASED AT INTAKE. THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT BUILT-IN MONITORING SYSTEMS BE DESIGNED FOR DIVERSION AND THAT RECOGNITION BE MADE OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES. STATISTICS RELATED TO ALL PHASES OF THE PROGRAM AND EVALUATION ARE PRESENTED IN NUMEROUS TABLES. SAN DIEGO COUNTY