NCJ Number
51260
Date Published
1974
Length
205 pages
Annotation
A JUVENILE DELINQUENCY DIVERSION AND CONTROL PROJECT UNDERTAKEN BY THE RICHMOND, CALIF., POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE GOAL OF THE RICHMOND PROJECT WAS TO USE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AS DIVERSIONARY ALTERNATIVES TO PROBATION OR INCARCERATION FOR JUVENILES, THUS REDUCING RECIDIVISM OR RECURRENCE OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. IN LIGHT OF THE CONTINUING INCREASE IN JUVENILE OFFENSE RATES, THE RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT CHOSE TO EXPERIMENT WITH DIVERSIONARY EFFORTS OF ITS OWN RATHER THAN TO WORK WITH THE EXISTING YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU. RICHMOND PERSONNEL VISITED SEVERAL CALIFORNIA PROGRAMS THAT WERE ATTEMPTING TO DIVERT YOUTHS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE RICHMOND PROJECT, RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON A SINGLE DIVERSIONARY MECHANISM, SHOULD BE BROAD IN SCOPE AND SHOULD ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH THE MANY FACTORS THOUGHT TO BE RELATED TO DELINQUENCY. A NEW UNIT WAS CREATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO WORK ON DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN YOUTH-RELATED ISSUES, AND JUVENILE DIVERSION. ALL POLICE PERSONNEL RECEIVED SPECIAL TRAINING IN JUVENILE CRISIS INTERVENTION, USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR JUVENILES, RECOGNITION OF CHILD NEGLECT AND ABUSE, AND DRUG ABUSE. PERSONNEL IN THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CONTROL AND DIVERSION UNIT ALSO RECEIVED TRAINING IN GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING TECHNIQUES. STAFFED BY A CAPTAIN, A SERGEANT, AND SIX POLICE OFFICERS, THE UNIT'S PREVENTION ACTIVITIES INCLUDED TUTORIAL AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS, INTERVENTION IN NEIGHBORHOOD DISPUTES THAT COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS FOR JUVENILES, AND EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY GROUPS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR YOUTHS. DIVERSIONARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDED DEVELOPMENT OF A REFERRAL SYSTEM, GROUP COUNSELING, BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR PARENTS OF YOUNG OFFENDERS, AND EDUCATIONAL COUNSELING. DETAILS OF THE RICHMOND PROGRAM'S DEVELOPMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND PREVENTION AND DIVERSION STRATEGIES ARE PRESENTED, TOGETHER WITH AN OVERVIEW OF JUVENILE DIVERSION AND A SAMPLING OF CASE HISTORIES FROM THE RICHMOND JUVENILE UNIT'S FILES. EACH PROGRAM COMPONENT--BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE CONSULTATION, JUVENILE DRUG ABUSE, EDUCATIONAL COUNSELING, EMPLOYMENT, POLICE VISITS TO SCHOOLS, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, SPEAKERS BUREAU, TUTORIAL PROGRAM--IS DESCRIBED AND ASSESSED. FACTORS IN THE DECISION TO CONTINUE OR NOT TO CONTINUE EACH COMPONENT AS AN ONGOING DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITY ARE IDENTIFIED. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT'S DIVERSION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM ARE PRESENTED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (LKM)