NCJ Number
54235
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 29-35
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
AN ORANGE COUNTY, CAL., PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING IN THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY BY PROVIDING INTENSIVE SUPERVISION FOR YOUTHS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD BE DETAINED IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE CONDITIONAL RELEASE AND INTENSIVE SUPERVISION PROGRAM (CRISP) WAS IMPLEMENTED IN OCTOBER 1974 TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE AND INTENSIVE SUPERVISION FOR YOUTHS RELEASED FROM DETENTION PENDING FUTURE HEARINGS. CRISP WAS EXPANDED IN FEBRUARY 1975 TO A TWO-UNIT OPERATION STAFFED BY 2 SUPERVISORS, 12 DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICERS, AND 3 CLERKS. WHEN CRISP BEGAN, MOST OF ITS CLIENTS WERE STATUS OFFENDERS. IN JANUARY 1977, A LAW WAS PASSED PRECLUDING PLACEMENT OF STATUS OFFENDERS IN SECURE DETENTION, AND THE CRISP CLIENT COMPOSITION CHANGED ACCORDINGLY. THE BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT OF CRISP ARE REVIEWED, AND THE PROGRAM'S CLIENTELE, REFERRAL PROCESS, CASE SUPERVISION AND TREATMENT MODALITY, INTERACTION WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND EVALUATION MECHANISM IS DESCRIBED. CASE EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATE THE FLEXIBLE APPROACH USED BY CRISP CASEWORKERS IN INDIVIDUALIZING TREATMENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH CLIENT. THE FOLLOWING MAJOR FINDINGS FROM AN ANALYSIS OF 1,442 YOUTHS SERVED BY CRISP OVER A 32-MONTH PERIOD ARE REPORTED: (1) CRISP GENERALLY DEALS WITH LESS SEVERE CASES, ALTHOUGH BOTH THE GENERAL DETENTION POPULATION AND THE CRISP POPULATION INCLUDE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF RELATIVELY SERIOUS OFFENDERS THAN ONCE WAS THE CASE; (2) OVER THE 32-MONTH PERIOD, THE CRISP POPULATION CAME TO INCLUDE MORE OLDER YOUTHS, MORE MALES, AND MORE YOUTH WITH PRIOR CONTACT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM; (3) 77.7 PERCENT OF CRISP CLIENTS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM SUCESSFULLY (WITHOUT RUNNING AWAY OR BEING ARRESTED WHILE UNDER CRISP SUPERVISION); AND (4) COMPARED WITH A CONTROL GROUP, CRISP CLIENTS ENGAGED IN LESS VIOLATIVE BEHAVIOR WHILE UNDER SUPERVISION. PLANS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM ARE NOTED. (LKM)