NCJ Number
16789
Date Published
1973
Length
19 pages
Annotation
PROJECT GOALS WERE THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, THE DIVERSION OF YOUTH FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.
Abstract
DURING THE FIVE-MONTH PERIOD THIS PROGRAM OPERATED, 129 YOUTHS WERE REFERRED TO THE CENTER. ONLY THREE WERE REARRESTED FOR A SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE. YOUTH REFERRED TO THE YOUTH SERVICES CENTER (YSC) WERE DELINQUENT FIRST OFFENDERS AND YOUTH IN DANGER OF BECOMING DELINQUENT. THE CENTER SECURED JOBS FOR YOUTHS IN COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS TEACHER'S AIDES. IT ALSO MAINTAINED AN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING PROGRAM. INDIVIDUAL YOUTH PROBLEMS INCLUDED SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES IN SCHOOL, PROBLEMS AT HOME, AND PHYSICAL AND/OR MENTAL PROBLEMS. THE YSC DISCOVERED A HIGH CORRELATION BETWEEN DIFFICULTY IN SCHOOL AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, CITING ABUSE OF DISMISSAL AUTHORITY BY SCHOOL OFFICIALS. EVALUATORS RECOMMENDED THAT A YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU (YSB) BE ESTABLISHED IN CANTON TO DIVERT JUVENILE OFFENDERS FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO BE A VEHICLE FOR UPGRADING AND COORDINATING THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO YOUTH, OTHER SUGGESTIONS INCLUDED REFERRING YOUTH CHARGED WITH MINOR OFFENSES DIRECTLY TO A YSB (INSTEAD OF TO JUVENILE COURT), AND HAVING THE SCHOOLS MODIFY THEIR DISMISSAL POLICY. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS SIX BRIEF CASE HISTORIES OF JUVENILES REFERRED TO THE YOUTH SERVICES CENTER.