NCJ Number
192129
Journal
Juvenile Justice Update Volume: 7 Issue: 5 Dated: October/November 2001 Pages: 1-2,15,16
Date Published
2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Hennepin County (Minneapolis), Minnesota, studied the population of children under 10 years old being referred to the juvenile court and implemented a range of responses that emphasize traditional child protective services delivered through a number of separate agencies; this paper describes how the county developed and implemented its approach and the results of a preliminary evaluation of the Targeted Early Intervention program.
Abstract
The Targeted Early Intervention program is a long-term program designed to work with children until they reach the age of 18. A multidisciplinary team composed of staff from social work, mental health, and the Hennepin County Attorney's Office reviews all referrals of children under 10 years old sent by local police. The eventual disposition is determined by a review of the crime and a risk-factor inventory. Some referrals may come from child protection services. Several pre-court diversion programs are available to the children and their families. Two diversion options use family group conferencing and a police intervention program that focuses on the development of a restitution plan. Whenever possible, children and families are referred to services in their community. A child needs assessment may be requested when additional information is required to reach a disposition. The evaluation measured results for 18 months and compared 33 children who received services with 34 children who did not. Children who received the Targeted Early Intervention program had fewer and less severe offenses, had significantly better school attendance, and showed signs of reduced exposure to abuse in the family.