Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Youth Service Bureau Diversion Concept - A Study of Labeling Theory as Related to Juvenile Justice System Penetration

• NCJ Number: 86518
• Author(s): R L Quincy
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 260 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Michigan State University - doctoral dissertation

Annotation

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the youth service bureau (YSB) diversion concept and its relationship to labeling theory and juvenile justice system penetration, or the degree of juvenile justice system involvement, in Berrien County, Mich.

Abstract

The study was structured according to an experimental treatment/control group pre-post test design. A total of 90 subjects -- 59 experimental and 31 control group individuals -- were involved for a 6-month period. A final police/court contact review was done during the ninth month of the study. Three research hypotheses were evaluated by using structured interviews of YSB clients with the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale and Jesness Inventory, self-reports on delinquency, and data extracted from files of the juvenile court and police department. The first hypothesis -- that diversion of youth to the YSB had the effect of reducing or retarding the degree of future deviant behavior -- was validated. The second hypothesis -- that youth diverted to the YSB would experience lower levels of penetration into the juvenile justice system -- was not borne out by the data. The third hypothesis -- that youth diverted to the YSB would have a self-image which either improved or remained intact -- was confirmed. Tables, figures, footnotes, study instruments and data, and about 90 references are included. (Author abstract modified)