NCJ Number
62796
Date Published
1978
Length
55 pages
Annotation
A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN CHESHIRE, ENGLAND, WHICH USES COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO INITIATE FRIENDSHIPS WITH JUVENILES DIVERTED FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE MOST RECENT FIGURES (1978) ISSUED IN ANNUAL REPORTS OF CHIEF CONSTABLES THROUGHOUT ENGLAND SHOW THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF DETECTED CRIME COMMITTED BY PERSONS UNDER 17 YEARS OF AGE IS BETWEEN 30 PERCENT AND 40 PERCENT OF TOTAL CRIME REPORTED NATIONWIDE AND OVER 50 PERCENT IN SOME AREAS. IN CHESHIRE, THE PERCENTAGE OF DETECTED CRIME COMMITTED BY JUVENILES IS APPROACHING 40 PERCENT. DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS, MANY JUVENILES HAVE BEEN 'CAUTIONED' (RELEASED WITH WARNING AND ADVICE) IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL POLICY. IN 1 YEAR, ABOUT 41 PERCENT OF ALL CHESHIRE'S JUVENILE OFFENDERS WERE CAUTIONED. IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE SOCIALIZATION OF THOSE JUVENILES CAUTIONED, A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED BY THE JUVENILE DIVISION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN COOPERATION WITH THE PROBATION SERVICE AND SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE PROGRAM INVOLVES THE RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS TO INTERACT WITH CAUTIONED YOUTH IN FLEXIBLE, INFORMAL WAYS. THE AIM IS TO EXERT A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON PERSONALITY AND INTEREST DEVELOPMENT AMONG HIGH-RISK YOUTH. WHILE NO SCIENTIFIC EVALUATIONS HAVE MEASURED PROGRAM OUTCOMES, INSTANCES OF DRAMATIC CHANGE HAVE BEEN OBSERVED IN MANY OF THE YOUTH INVOLVED. MUCH OF THIS IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE MATCHING OF VOLUNTEERS INTERESTS WITH INDIVIDUAL JUVENILES' INTERESTS. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE DATA ON THE EXTENT OF JUVENILE CRIME IN CHESHIRE, THE NATURE OF COURT DISPOSITIONS, AND MATERIALS RELATING TO THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. (RCB)