FAIRFAX COUNTY (VA) - EVALUATION OF THE FAMILY SYSTEMS PROGRAM THROUGH DECEMBER 1976

• NCJ Number: 59588
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 28 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Fairfax Cty Office of Research and Statistics
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE UPDATED OFFENSE HISTORIES OF A SAMPLE OF CASES PARTICIPATING IN THE FAMILY SYSTEMS PROGRAM IN FAIRFAX, VA., WERE SELECTED TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS.

Abstract

THIS EVALUATION COVERS THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM FROM JULY THROUGH DECEMBER 1976, FOR QUANTITATIVE EVALUATIVE INFORMATION, SUCH AS NUMBER OF CASES PARTICIPATING. THE EVALUATION OF RECIDIVISM IS BASED ON A SAMPLE OF 60 CASES DRAWN FROM ALL 440 CASES WHICH HAD PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION. ORIGINALLY, THE FAMILY SYSTEMS PROGRAM WAS INSTITUTED TO PROVIDE A THEORETICALLY SOUND TREATMENT MODE FOR FAMILY-CENTERED PROBLEMS, THUS REDUCING FURTHER COURT CONTACT IN THESE CASES, AND TO TRAIN COURT STAFF TO FILL THE GROWING NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF SERVICE. CURRENT OBJECTIVES ARE TO PROVIDE FAMILY COUNSELING TO AID PARENTS OF DELINQUENT JUVENILES IN REGAINING PARENTAL AUTHORITY AND CONTROL OVER THEIR CHILDREN, TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN FAMILY SYSTEMS THEORY TO COURT STAFF REQUIRING SUCH SKILLS, TO PROVIDE FAMILY COUNSELING TO COUPLES HAVING REPEATED COURT CONTACT WITH DOMESTIC RELATIONS PROBLEMS, AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE COURT WHERE APPROPRIATE. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT FAMILY COUNSELING HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE AS EVIDENCED BY A DECREASE IN RECIDIVISM OF 90 PERCENT. THIS COUNSELING WAS PROVIDED TO 154 FAMILIES IN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF FISCAL YEAR 1977. COUNSELING WAS ALSO EFFECTIVE IN DOMESTIC RELATIONS CASES, RESULTING IN NO RECIDIVISM IN CASES WHERE THE CONFLICT PRECIPITATING REFERRAL WAS RESOLVED THROUGH COUNSELING. CASES NOT RESOLVING THIS CONFLICT HAD A 36 PERCENT RECIDIVISM RATE. TRAINING WAS PROVIDED ON A CONTINUING BASIS TO COURT STAFF DESIRING SUCH SKILLS. THE COURT WAS ALSO PROVIDED SERVICES INCLUDING CRISIS INTERVENTION (10 CASES) AND DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS (31 CASES). THUS, THE PROGRAM BENEFITS JUVENILES, THEIR PARENTS, THE COURT, AND THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH THE REDUCTION IN DELINQUENT ACTIVITY AMONG JUVENILES WHICH, IN TURN, REDUCES THE DEMANDS ON THE COURT, POLICE, AND THE DETENTION FACILITY. AN APPENDIX PROVIDES DATA ON OFFENSES PER CASE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER PROGRAM PARTICIPATION. (PRG)