NCJ Number
45759
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
MEASURED BY THE NATURE OF THE TASKS PERFORMED, THE NUMBER OF CASES PROCESSED, AND THE OPINIONS OF THOSE MOST FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT, THE OPERATION FROM ITS START IN JULY 1972 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1977, IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
IN JUNE OF 1972, THE FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE RECEIVED JURISDICTION OVER ALL JUVENILES ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES, SUCH CASES HAVING PREVIOUSLY BEEN UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE SUPERIOR COURT. THE FAMILY COURT, HAVING NO COUNSELORS TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THIS NEW POPULATION, APPLIED TO THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR FUNDS TO ESTABLISH A UNIT TO SPECIALIZE IN THE ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION, AND TREATMENT OF JUVENILES INVOLVED IN DRUG ABUSE. IN JUNE 1972, THE APPLICATION WAS APPROVED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A UNIT FOR THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY FAMILY COURT. IN APRIL 1976, THE CONCEPT WAS EXPANDED TO KENT COUNTY FAMILY COURT. INITIALLY, THE PROGRAM PROPOSED TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE COUNSELING AND FOLLOWUP SERVICES TO JUVENILES INVOLVED WITH DRUG ABUSE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION. DURING THE SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION, HOWEVER, THE PROJECT SHIFTED ITS EMPHASIS FROM COUNSELING TO THE PROVIDING OF LIAISON SERVICE BETWEEN COURT AND REFERRALS AND ESTABLISHED DRUG ABUSE REHABILITATION SERVICES AND FACILITIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO BEGAN TO PLACE MORE EMPHASIS ON EVALUATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS FOR THE COURT. IN ITS FOURTH YEAR, THE PROJECT INTRODUCED THE CONCEPT OF MONITORING CLIENTS THROUGH THE SERVICES TO WHICH THEY HAD BEEN REFERRED. ALL OF THESE CHANGES OCCURRED IN REPONSE TO THE MOST FREQUENT REQUESTS BY THE COURT. THE EVALUATORS ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIFFICULTY OF ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT. NO FOLLOWUP WAS DONE TO DETERMINE IF THE CLIENTS SERVED HAD ANY FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE EVALUATION ASSESSMENT WAS MADE ON THE BASIS OF DETERMINING IF THE TASKS SET FOR ACHIEVEMENT WERE ACTUALLY PERFORMED AND IF THE NUMBER OF CASES PROCESSED CONFORMED TO ESTABLISHED GOALS. OPINIONS OF PERSONS WHO HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE PROJECT WERE ALSO SOLICITED. THE PROJECT IS COMMENDED BY THE EVALUATORS FOR REACHING ITS GOALS OF TASKS PERFORMED AND NUMBER OF CASES PROCESSED. UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT WAS VOICED BY THOSE WHOSE OPINIONS WERE SOUGHT. BECAUSE, AS OF THE WRITING OF THE EVALUATION REPORT, THE PROGRAM HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED IN NEW CASTLE COUNTY DUE TO BUDGET LIMITATIONS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUPPORT EITHER FAMILY COURT OR THE BUREAU OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONTROL IN OBTAINING OTHER FUNDS TO ALLOW THE CONTINUANCE OF A SPECIALIZED DRUG UNIT WITHIN THE COURT FACILITY. (RCB)