NCJ Number
156865
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 57 Issue: 5 Dated: (August 1995) Pages: 144,146,148
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
In Fresno, Calif., for the past 2 years uniformed police officers have teamed up with juvenile probation officers to help reduce violence, drug abuse, and gang- related crime on high school and middle school campuses.
Abstract
This development is the latest in a serious of efforts, beginning in 1968, to improve police strategies for dealing with juveniles who commit crimes on school campuses. The campus-based police/probation teams respond to reported crimes and conduct informal hearings for students cited for committing misdemeanors. Offenders usually are required to perform community service work around the school campus. The school district provides office space and supplies, assistance from school counselors, and secretarial support. Police/probation teams have access to information from student files when needed. Since the program began, campus safety has improved noticeably. The concept involved no added cost to the participating agencies. Although similar programs may not be feasible in some communities, police administrators should develop systems that promote communication between patrol officers and school officials to control the problem of increasing school crime and violence. Photographs