NCJ Number
53711
Date Published
1978
Length
92 pages
Annotation
THE FORMALIZATION OF THE POLICE YOUTH OFFICER ROLE IN CONNECTICUT POLICE DEPARTMENTS IS TRACED, AND GENERAL DUTIES OF POLICE YOUTH OFFICERS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
LIAISON, INVESTIGATION, TRAINING AND EDUCATION, REFERRAL, AND RECORDKEEPING ARE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF POLICE YOUTH OFFICERS. AGENCIES WITH WHICH POLICE YOUTH OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE LIAISON INCLUDE JUVENILE COURTS, SCHOOLS, PARENTS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, SOCIAL SERVICE RESOURCES, APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCIES, OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS, REGIONAL COUNCILS OF POLICE CHIEFS, PROBATION DEPARTMENTS, TRUANT OFFICERS, THE COMMUNITY, THE FAMILY RELATIONS DIVISION OF ADULT COURTS, REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AGENCIES, CLERGYMEN, BUSINESS GROUPS AND CLUBS, PARENT AND ADULT ORGANIZATIONS, YOUTH CLUBS, MEMBERS AND DIVISIONS OF THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND YOUTH OFFICER TRAINING RESOURCES. LOCAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN A COMMUNITY DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOUTH OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO PERFORM SUCH TASKS AS DIVERSION, COUNSELING, REFERRAL, DETERRENCE, AND PREVENTION. PARTICIPANTS IN A POLICE YOUTH OFFICER CONFERENCE IDENTIFIED EDUCATION AND TRAINING AS IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF OFFICER FUNCTIONING. GREATER EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON THE PROVISION OF EDUCATION TO SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY GROUPS BY POLICE THAN ON RECEIVING TRAINING THEMSELVES. MODELS OF POLICE YOUTH OFFICER PROGRAMS IN CONNECTICUT POLICE AGENCIES ARE DETAILED, ALONG WITH CURRICULUM CONTENT. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE HANDLING OF JUVENILES. THE DETERMINATION OF WHEN A POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF A YOUTH OFFICER TO BE A JUVENILE SPECIALIST IS DISCUSSED. CHARTS, TABLES, AND FORMS RELATED TO THE MODELS OF POLICE YOUTH OFFICER PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)