DENVER - PROJECT NEW PRIDE - EXEMPLARY PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 42020
• Author(s): C H BLEW; D MCGILLIS; G BRYANT
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 147 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-0030-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Abt Associates, Inc
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EXEMPLARY PROJECT

Annotation

PROJECT NEW PRIDE IS A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM OFFERING REMEDIAL EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT SERVICES TO 14-17 YEAR-OLD JUVENILES, MANY OF WHOM HAVE LENGTHY CRIMINAL RECORDS.

Abstract

DENVER'S PROJECT NEW PRIDE OPERATES ON THE PREMISE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MUST CONFRONT THE PROBLEMS IN HIS OWN ENVIRONMENT -- WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. TO DO THIS THE OFFENDER MUST BE GUIDED IN ADOPTING AND MAINTAINING A CONVENTIONAL LIFE-STYLE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE DELINQUENT LIFE-STYLE HE HAS KNOWN. NEW PRIDE PROVIDES THIS DIRECTION BY ADDRESSING THE YOUTHS' TYPICALLY VERY LOW ESTEEM FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. FOUR MAIN AREAS OF SERVICE ARE INCORPORATED IN ONE PROGRAM TO HELP THE CLIENT CONFRONT HIS PROBLEMS IN AN INTEGRATED MANNER: ALTERNATIVE ACADEMIC OR LEARNING DISABILITIES EDUCATION, INTENSIVE PERSONAL COUNSELING, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, AND CULTURAL EXPOSURE. CLIENTS ARE REFERRED TO NEW PRIDE THROUGH DENVER'S JUVENILE COURT PROBATION PLACEMENT DIVISION AND MUST HAVE A RECENT ARREST OR CONVICTION FOR BURGLARY, ROBBERY, OR ASSAULT WITH TWO PRIOR CONVICTIONS FOR THESE OFFENSES. NEW PRIDE PROVIDES INTENSIVE SERVICES WITH LIMITED CASELOADS AFFORDED BY A HIGH STAFF-TO-CLIENT RATIO. THE STAFF INCLUDES 18 PROFESSIONALS, A PSYCHOLOGIST, A SOCIOLOGIST, AN OPTOMETRIST, AND A LARGE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS. NEW PRIDE'S RECORD IN ACHIEVING ITS PRIMARY GOALS IS SEEN AS IMPRESSIVE: DURING A 12-MONTH PERIOD IN THE COMMUNITY, 32 PERCENT OF A CONTROL GROUP WERE ARRESTED AT LEAST ONCE FOR REFERRAL OFFENSES, COMPARED TO 27 PERCENT OF NEW PRIDE CLIENTS. THE PROGRAM ALSO HAD CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS IN JOB PLACEMENT. FOLLOWING VOCATIONAL TRAINING 70 PERCENT OF ALL CLIENTS WERE PLACED IN FULL- OR PART-TIME JOBS. FORTY PERCENT OF NEW PRIDE PARTICIPANTS RETURNED TO SCHOOL. MOREOVER, THE COST OF INCARCERATING A YOUTH IN COLORADO IS ESTIMATED TO BE $12,000 ANNUALLY. NEW PRIDE SPENDS APPROXIMATELY $4,000 A YEAR TO KEEP A JUVENILE OUT OF INSTITUTIONS. OF THE 161 YOUTHS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, 89 PERCENT HAVE NOT HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED. THIS AMOUNTS TO POTENTIAL SAVINGS OF SLIGHTLY OVER $1.1 MILLION IF ALL THE YOUTHS HAD BEEN INCARCERATED FOR ONE YEAR. FOR THE PROJECT'S SCREENING AND VALIDATION REPORTS, SEE NCJ-39639. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)