DELINQUENT GIRLS - HOW DOES A NON-PROFIT VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION PROVIDE SERVICES TO JUVENILE FEMALE OFFENDERS? - 'OPERATION SISTERS UNITED'

• NCJ Number: 50124
• Journal: VITAL ISSUES Volume: 27 Issue: 9 Dated: (MAY 1978) Pages: 1-6
• Author(s): R A SYKES; P E GREEN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Ctr for Information on America
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY FOR THE OPERATION SISTERS UNITED PROGRAM ARE DESCRIBED, AND SITE SELECTION CRITERIA ARE DISCUSSED. THE PROGRAM IS PART OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN, INCORPORATED.

Abstract

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP A STRONG ONE-TO-ONE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADULT VOLUNTEERS AND YOUNG DELINQUENT GIRLS. VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED AND MATCHED WITH GIRLS WHO CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM FOR 4 AFTERNOONS PER WEEK, FROM 6 TO 12 MONTHS. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO SERVE THE FEMALE JUVENILES WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND DELIVERS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES DIRECTED AT REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT. THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO INCREASE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR DEALING WITH FEMALE JUVENILES, SINCE REHABILITATION RESOURCES ARE LARGELY CONCENTRATED ON THE NEEDS OF MALES. A CORPS OF VOLUNTEERS REPRESENTING A WIDE RANGE OF SOCIOECOMOMIC, CULTURAL, OCCUPATIONAL, AND INTEREST BACKGROUNDS ARE RECRUITED AND TRAINED. GROUP ACTIVITIES INCLUDE COUNSELING, INTENSIVE TUTORING, RECREATION, HOMEMAKING, CULTURAL PROGRAMS, AND CONVERSTAION SESSIONS AIMED AT IMPROVING SELF-AWARENESS AND LIFESTYLES. SUPPORTIVE FAMILY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED, AND PLANNED LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED. THE PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO SITES IN DAYTON (OHIO), GREENVILLE (MISS.), AND ST. THOMAS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. SITE SELECTION WAS BASED ON THE AREA INTEREST IN SUCH A PROGRAM, COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF THE IDEA, AND NEED. ACTIVITIES AT THESE SITES ARE DESCRIBED. THE PROGRAM, WHICH RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THE LEAA, PROVIDES SERVICES AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2.313.63 PER GIRL ANNUALLY. THIS IS CONSTRASTED TO A 1974 REPORT SHOWING AN AVERAGE COST OF $11,657 PER INSTITUTIONALIZED OFFENDER, AND $5,501 PER OFFENDER IN STATE-RELATED COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. THE NECESSITY FOR DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION, PARTICULARLY FOR FEMALE STATUS OFFENDERS, IS UNDERSCORED. DRAWINGS ILLUSTRATE THE ARTICLE. (DAG)