NCJ Number
170966
Date Published
Unknown
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The juvenile diversion program operated by the Finney County (Kans.) Status Offender Office is described in terms of its purposes, problems handled, processes, programs and services, and statistics for 1996.
Abstract
The program provides an alternative to prosecution for first-time and second-time juvenile offenders. Each youth receives an assessment, which includes an alcohol and drug use assessment and which is made available to the courts and the County Attorney. Youths who are juvenile offenders, juveniles in need of care, in conflict with their parents or schools, or otherwise in crisis receive immediate primary intervention. The youths are referred by parents, schools, the County attorney, private attorneys, law enforcement personnel, courts, or themselves. Problems that indicate a need for the office's services include contact with law enforcement, drug use, conflicts with family, school problems, problems in personal relationships, runaways, marital strife in the home, and inadequate parental supervision. Services include drug and alcohol abuse screening and urinalysis, a theft prevention class, a community violence awareness class, parenting classes, a youth alternative group, an Adopt-a-Highway program, a graffiti removal effort, gang awareness training, and a scared straight program of visits to jails. The office served 386 male and 171 female juveniles during 1996. Tables and figures