NCJ Number
72889
Date Published
1980
Length
75 pages
Annotation
This 1980 audit of the New York Division for Youth's (DFY) administration of State Aid for Delinquency Prevention Programs is an update of the 1972 audit. Both audits are critical of the DFY's management of the programs.
Abstract
In 1972, the Legislative Commission on Expenditure Reviews (LCER) was critical of DFY's management of the core Youth Development and Delinquency Prevention Program (YDDP) which was at the time the only DFY delinquency prevention program. Under the core YDDP program, three types of youth projects have received State aid--youth bureaus, recreation projects, and youth service projects. The present audit found that the DFY administration of this and the additional county level programs such as County Comprehensive Youth Services Plan (CCYSP), was deficient. Lack of coordination of YDDP and the Special Delinquency Prevention Program (SDPP), another of the new programs, contributed to duplication, frustration, and confusion. Furthermore, DFY did not take a leadership role in insuring that State aid for delinquency prevention was used for effective program models. Other deficiencies included lack of evaluation and adequate information required to assess program results. Not only did DFY lack information on whether delinquency was being prevented through financially assisted programs, but it also could not specify in common format the number and characteristics of youth served as well as the type of services. The appropriations for DFY's delinquency prevention programs in 1978-79 were $29,947,000. Of this, 58 percent was for YDDP and 17 percent went to SDPP programs. The program overview covers historical background, organization and the audit scope and methods. Information on YDDP covers the County Comprehensive Youth Services Plan; YDDP allocations, areas and relationship to youth population; coordination with SDPP; and program reporting, monitoring and auditing procedures. Footnotes are included. The list of interviews, contacts and visits, allocations for other State programs, agency response, and LCER staff response are appended.