NCJ Number
64875
Date Published
1979
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THIS DOCUMENT DESCRIBES THE YOUTH ADVOCACY PROGRAM, ITS RANGE OF SERVICES OFFERED TO DIVERTED STATUS OFFENDERS, ITS PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS, AND RESULTS OF A PROGRAM EVALUATION.
Abstract
FOUNDED IN 1978 BY THE BRIDGE, A MULTICOMMUNITY AGENCY SERVING JUVENILES, THE YOUTH ADVOCACY PROGRAM'S GOALS WERE TWOFOLD: TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE FOR STATUS OFFENDERS DIVERTED FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO INCREASE THE USE OF SOCIAL SERVICES BY THE POLICE, COURT, AND MAGISTRATES. THE REPORT GIVES BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM'S HISTORY, CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SERVICE AREA AND SERVICE POPULATION (FOR EXAMPLE, 78 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION LIVE IN URBAN AREAS), PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY, AND PROGRAM GOALS. COMMUNITY RESOURCE SUPPORT SERVICES, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AND BUDGET AND FUNDING ARE DESCRIBED. INCREASING POLICE DEPARTMENT REFERRALS--A MAJOR GOAL OF THE PROGRAM--WAS ATTEMPTED THROUGH A SYSTEMATIC OUTREACH EFFORT TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS, MAGISTRATES, AND JUVENILE COURT PERSONNEL; THROUGH A STANDARD REFERRAL FORM AND PROCESS THAT POLICE, MAGISTRATES, AND THE COURT COULD USE; AND THROUGH ONGOING LIAISON ACTIVITIES WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE REPORT ALSO DESCRIBES THE INTAKE SERVICE, THE ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING PROCESS, AND AVAILABLE USER SERVICES. EVALUATION FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THE PROGRAM WAS SUCCESSFUL IN SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PROGRAM REFERRALS, IN INCREASING THE NUMBER OF REFERRAL SOURCES, AND IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO STATUS OFFENDERS AND FAMILIES. FUTURE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ARE TO STUDY RECIDIVISM RATES AND OVERALL PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS. TABULAR DATA ARE GIVEN, AND APPENDIXES PROVIDE LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION, A QUESTIONNAIRE, REFERRAL FORM, AND A DESCRIPTIVE POSTER. (AOP)