NCJ Number
40766
Journal
JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 77-81
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A FAMILY COUNSELING INTERVENTION PROGRAM THAT IS OPERATING IN A LARGE SOUTHWESTERN CITY TO DEAL WITH JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE INTERVENTION IS BASED ON A PSYCHOLOGICAL CONCEPTION OF THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN A LEGAL ONE, AND FAMILY THERAPY IS THE CORE. THE EVALUATION OF THIS VOLUNTARY PRECOURT COUNSELING PROGRAM, THE METHOD OF WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN THE PAPER, REVEALED THAT THE SERVICES PROVIDED WERE EFFECTIVE FOR TREATING JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS. THERE WERE SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER CASES BEING TAKEN TO COURT WHEN COMPARED WITH A SAMPLE OF CASES PRIOR TO THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM. FURTHER, AT THE END OF THE ESTABLISHED INTERVENTION PERIOD, MOST CASES WERE REFERRED TO THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM, RATHER THAN TO THE JUVENILE COURT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)