Community Driven Response to Juvenile Offending (From Preventing Juvenile Crime Conference Proceedings No. 9, 1991, P 145-150, Julia Vernon, Sandra McKillop, eds. -- See NCJ-135877)

• NCJ Number: 135892
• Author(s): A Carter; N Drew
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

The Townsville Regional Attendance Center (TRAC) is described with particular focus on its two components, the correctional curriculum and outdoor program, and effective intervention for young offenders.

Abstract

The program involves early offenders who were placed on a supervision order that they attend the attendance center. Because of lack of funding, volunteers and other youth organizations provide support. The compensatory curriculum includes activities such as sailing, canoeing, orienteering, map reading, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities. It also provides instruction in educational, vocational, and general abilities skills. The correctional curriculum is designed to meet the individualized needs of each participant. Preliminary assessment uncovers the reason behind each individual's behavior rather than the general causes for the delinquent acts. Group activities are structured to look at alternatives on the basis of situational social skills, reasoning process, general perceptions and beliefs, and family therapy. The program is currently without funding, and efforts to obtain funding from the government and from the corporate sector are underway. Additional features of the program are its flexibility and its portability; the former because more than one particular strategy is adopted, and the latter because it utilizes available community resources. 3 references