DIAGNOSTIC TEAM APPROACH FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

• NCJ Number: 19311
• Journal: Juvenile Justice Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1975) Pages: 27-30
• Author(s): W C LOVE; G H BACHARA
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

AFTER TRACING THE RELATIONSHIP OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND LEARNING DISABILITIES, THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THE NORFOLK (VA) JUVENILE COURT DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS WHICH AID THE LEARNING DISABLED DELINQUENT.

Abstract

IT IS NOTED THAT THE LEARNING DISABLED CHILD AND THE JUVENILE DELINQUENT HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERISTICS, INCLUDING POOR VISUAL-MOTOR-PERCEPTUAL COORDINATION, POOR EYE-HAND COORDINATION, POOR SELF-CONCEPT DUE TO SCHOOL FAILURES, AND HIGH DEGREES OF FRUSTRATION. TO DETERMINE THE INCIDENCE OF LEARNING DISABILITIES AMONG THE DELINQUENTS OF THE NORFOLK JUVENILE COURT, PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS OF OVER 100 JUVENILES WERE EVALUATED FOR A ONE-YEAR PERIOD. FIFTY-SEVEN PERCENT OF THESE JUVENILES WERE FOUND TO HAVE A GENERAL LEARNING DISABILITY. THE DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM OF THE NORFOLK JUVENILE COURT IS DESCRIBED. THIS PROCESS INVOLVES PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION, IDENTIFICATION OF HOME ENVIRONMENT DEMANDS, AND ASSESSMENT OF ACADEMIC STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. TREATMENT OF THESE DELINQUENTS INVOLVES A BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION GROUP THERAPY PROGRAM WHICH UTILIZES BEHAVIORAL CONTRACTS. PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND TREAT LEARNING-DISABLED JUVENILES BEFORE DELINQUENCY IS MANIFESTED ARE RECOMMENDED.