DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL FOR PROVIDING ADVOCACY SERVICES TO INDIGENT ADOLESCENTS ACCUSED OF DELINQUENT CONDUCT AND THE FACILITATION OF ITS IMPLEMENTATION AT THE JUVENILE COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 56321
• Author(s): E A HARRIS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 358 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SPECIAL PRICES FOR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS HARVARD UNIVERSITY - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JUVENILE COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO THE ADVOCACY NEEDS OF DELINQUENTS IN THE MASSACHUSETTS JUVENILE COURTS, ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

WHILE THE JUVENILE COURT ADVOCACY PROGRAM (JCAP) WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY ASSISTANCE TO JUVENILES BY COMBINING PERSONALIZED LEGAL REPRESENTATION WITH AGGRESSIVE SOCIAL SERVICE ADVOCACY, THREE PROBLEMS PREVENTED JCAP FROM FULLY REALIZING ITS INTERDISCIPLINARY OBJECTIVES: (1) FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM'S ORGANIZERS TO CONSULT CLINICAL EXPERTS DURING THE DESIGN PHASE, (2) FAILURE TO CONFRONT THE INHERENT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LEGAL AND CLINICAL APPROACHES TO CLIENT PROBLEMS, AND (3) INABILITY TO INSURE CONTINUITY OF STAFF AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE EFFECTIVE APPROACHES BECAUSE OF AN UNSTABLE FUNDING BASE. TO OVERCOME THESE DRAWBACKS, A COMPREHENSIVE MODEL OF DISPOSITIONAL ADVOCACY WAS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED. THIS REQUIRED A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ITS IMPACT ON JCAP CLIENTS. TWO MAJOR PITFALLS OF THE SYSTEM WERE THE LACK OF A PROCEDURE FOR ASSESSING INDIVIDUALS NEEDS AND MATCHING THESE NEEDS WITH APPROPRIATE SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS, AND THE SYSTEM ITSELF WHICH, BY GENERATING MUCH ALIENATION AND HOSTILITY, INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE DELINQUENCY. THE MODEL PROPOSED THAT JCAP WORKERS COULD COMPENSATE FOR THESE DEFECTS IF THEY PERFORMED FOUR SPECIFIC TASKS: (1) DEVELOP A CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENTS TO BETTER ACCLIMATE THEM TO THE JUVENILE PROCESS; (2) ASSESS THE INDIVIDUAL CLINICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE CLIENTS TO EQUIP THEM BETTER TO COPE WITH THE DEMANDS OF THEIR ENVIRONS, (3) SELECT A DISPOSITIONAL PLAN INCORPORATING THE RELEVANT SOCIAL SERVICES IN A MANNER ACCEPTABLE TO THE COURT, AND (4) IMPLEMENT THE PLAN THROUGH EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY. IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND INTEGRATION OF SERVICES FOR JUVENILES IN THE STATE, THE MODEL'S IMPLEMENTATION INCREASED WORKER SATISFACTION. GRAPHIC DATA, A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND VARIOUS JCAP FORMS ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)