NCJ Number
53370
Date Published
1978
Length
207 pages
Annotation
THE COMPREHENSIVE OFFENDER PROGRAM EFFORT (COPE) PROGRAM, AS IMPLEMENTED IN TWO WISCONSIN COUNTIES, IS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF THE HANDLING OF STATUS OFFENDERS AND JUVENILE DETENTION AND DIVERSION.
Abstract
AS A DIVERSIONARY EFFORT FOCUSING ON THE POINT OF INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE COPE PROGRAM ADDRESSED SIGNIFICANT ISSUES IN REMOVING STATUS OFFENDERS FROM JUVENILE COURTS, REDUCING THE DETENTION OF STATUS OFFENDERS, AND INCREASING ACCESS TO AND THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO STATUS OFFENDERS. THE GENERAL APPROACH OF COPE INCLUDED BOTH IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO PROBLEMS AS THEY OCCURRED AND THE PROVISION OF FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES, RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING EFFORTS DIRECTED EXCLUSIVELY TOWARD YOUTH. THE COPE PROGRAM WAS MODELED AFTER A DIVERSION IN SACRAMENTO, CALIF., SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. SPECIFIC GOALS FOR EACH WISCONSIN COUNTY'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE COPE PROGRAM WERE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STATUS OFFENSE CASES RECEIVING FORMAL COURT HEARINGS, THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE DELIQUENCY OFFENSE CASES RECEIVING FORMAL COURT HEARINGS, THE NUMBER OF STATUS OFFENDERS HELD OVERNIGHT IN SECURE DETENTION FACILITIES, AND OFFENSES COMMITTED BY YOUTH. A QUASIEXPERIMENTAL DESIGN WAS EMPLOYED TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM THAT EMPHASIZED PREPROGRAM, POSTPROGRAM, AND LONGITUDINAL COMPARIONS OF BOTH JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPACT AND INDIVIDUAL CLIENT OUTCOMES IN THE TWO COUNTRIES. THE DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM WAS ORIENTED TOWARD DETERMINING WHAT INDEPENDENT AND/OR TREATMENT VARIABLES CONTRIBUTE TO OUTCOMES IN THREE AREAS: RECIDIVISM (NEW OFFENSES) OR REPEAT STATUS OFFENDERS, REDUCTIONS IN JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESSING (INCLUDING DETENTION AND DELINQUENCY PETITIONS), AND SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENTS. FORMS COMPLETED AS YOUTH PROCEEDED THROUGH THE PROGRAM WERE INTAKE-SCREENING FORMS, TERMINATION RECORDS, AND FOLLOWUP ASSESSMENT FORMS. AN ANALYSIS OF ARREST DATA INDICATED THAT THE COPE PROGRAM REDUCED THE NUMBER OF MINOR STATUS OFFENDERS IN THE CATEGORIES OF CURFEW VIOLATIONS AND LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS BUT HAD NO IMPACT ON THE INCREASING NUMBER OF RUNAWAYS AND SHOWED NO CLEAR IMPACT ON DRUG VIOLATIONS. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT REFERRAL GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA SHOULD BE CAREFULLY DESIGNED AND MONITORED IN ORDER FOR THE CONCEPT OF JUVENILE DIVERSION THROUGH FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION TO BE EFFECTIVE. POLICY RECOMMENDATION TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES ARE NOTED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN DETENTION DATA FROM 1975 TO 1978, A FAMILY FUNCTIONING INVENTORY, AND RESPONSES FROM COPE PROGRAM DIRECTORS. (DEP)