NCJ Number
144432
Date Published
1993
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This analysis shows that the Family Ties program of New York City's Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is a cost- effective approach to juvenile delinquency prevention and diversion.
Abstract
Family Ties is an alternative-to-placement program created to serve juveniles adjudicated delinquent in the Family Court. Specially trained family preservationists work intensively with children and their families for 4 to 8 weeks to help them solve underlying problems that have contributed to the child's delinquency. The desired program outcome is a judge's decision to put the child on probation, rather than to send him or her into long-term, out-of-home placement with the New York State Division for Youth. Once a Family Court judge refers a case to the program, a Family Ties intake coordinator determines family eligibility. Cases are accepted as long as the family is willing to work toward keeping the child home and the child has no open cases in other courts. Offense severity has no bearing on the decision to accept a referred case. Family Ties is designed to serve even very troubled families who may not have been successful with less intensive programs. Family Ties workers regularly inform judges and other court and legal system personnel about the program and its benefits. The Family Ties program has achieved a total savings of $11,043,318 in placement costs from its inception in 1989 through December 31, 1991. A chart of Family Ties intervention and the juvenile delinquency court process is appended, along with data on cost savings attributable to the program. 5 tables and 1 figure