NCJ Number
15639
Date Published
1973
Length
115 pages
Annotation
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS YOUTH RESOURCES BUREAUS (YRB).
Abstract
FOUR BUREAUS WERE INVOLVED IN THIS EVALUATION PROGRAM. BROCKTON YRB AND WALTHAM FAMILY AND YOUTH RESOURCES BUREAU WERE IN FULL OPERATION DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD. CAMBRIDGE YRB AND NEW BEDFORD YOUTH RESOURCES AGENCY WERE IN THE PLANNING STAGE. EACH BUREAU WAS BOTH ASSESSED SEPARATELY AND COMPARED TO EACH OTHER. FACTORS CONSIDERED IN THIS COMPARISON INCLUDED DELINQUENCY PREVENTION APPROACH, TARGET POPULATION, TYPE OF STAFF PERSONNEL, AND EXTENT OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. FOUR GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, CARRIED OUT THE EVALUATIONS. THEY MADE WEEKLY SITE VISITS TO EACH YRB, KEPT NARRATIVE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PROGRAMS, AND GATHERED BASELINE DATA ON EACH REFERRAL TO THE YRB. FLOW DIAGRAMS OF REFERRAL ACTIVITY AND COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT WERE ALSO USED IN THE EVALUATION. IN ADDITION, THE BACKGROUNDS OF THE TWO YRB'S IN FULL OPERATION WERE ASSESSED. RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION PROGRAM ARE INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT.