NCJ Number
156520
Journal
Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: (1994) Pages: 25-43
Date Published
1994
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The establishment of a 24-hour centralized adolescent receiving, processing, and intervention facility in Tampa, Florida, the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC), reflected an appreciation that the crises in the juvenile justice system necessitated interagency, collaborative efforts.
Abstract
As a multiagency collaborative approach to systematizing the processing of juveniles, the JAC will lead to greater efficiency across the juvenile justice and treatment service systems, their increased coordination, and enhanced responsiveness to public safety issues and the needs of at-risk youth and their families. The program will permit the simultaneous fulfillment of required legal and social service intervention of youths taken into custody, involving preliminary screening and in-depth assessment where indicated, followed by referral for additional evaluation or treatment. The comprehensive information system implemented at the JAC will provide data that will allow the characterization of youths likely to pursue delinquent activities. Information on the outcome of referrals will support the development of more effective intervention and prevention efforts. The data will offer feedback on facility operation, the screening and in-depth assessment of at- risk youths, and the youths' problems involving violent crime, gang activity, and illegal drug use. 1 figure and 32 references