NCJ Number
77487
Date Published
1981
Length
167 pages
Annotation
This document contains the final reports of five projects in Atlanta, Ga., involved victim witness assistance, a shelter for battered women, juvenile diversion, community crime prevention, and crime prevention education for the elderly.
Abstract
The victim witness assistance program operated by the South Cobb Jaycees was able to reduce the percentage of misdemeanor cases dropped due to witness nonappearance at trials and pretrial conferences from 34 percent to 20 percent. Witness management services also produced considerable cost savings by decreasing the time that police and lay witnesses spent unnecessarily in court. Program activities are detailed, such as transportation, child care, and services provided by volunteers, along with charts illustrating costs and cases handled. In addition, the development of the Crisis Center for Battered Women by the Cobb County Y.W.C.A. is described. Major components included an emergency shelter, agreements with county police to protect the shelter, hotlines, counseling, and a legal handbook for battered women. Another project called Interfaith, Inc., designed to prevent youth crime, was relocated to economically disadvantaged area called Peoplestown which needed programs for minority youths. Tutoring, arts and crafts, an anticrime club, career development classes, and consumer education were offered to youths between 10 and 16 years old in the summer and after school. Assistance was obtained from other community service agencies, local businesses, and volunteers. The community anticrime program sponsored by the Candler Park Neighborhood Organization revitalized block watches and implemented a neighborhood advocate program to increase residents' awareness of community problems and participate in developing solutions. The Northside Shepard's Center, which served an area with many elderly residents, instructed these senior citizens in physical crime prevention techinques and organized whistle stop and block watch programs. A chart showing the final expenditures of all projects is included.