Impact of Delinquency Prevention and Youth Development Act Programs in Virginia Communities - Comparison of Fiscal Years 1978 Through 1983

• NCJ Number: 102258
• Author(s): A L Stolberg
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 34 pages
• Corporate Author: Virginia Dept of Corrections
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The 1979 Virginia Delinquency Prevention and Youth Development Act provided funding to local efforts aimed at providing planned, long-term, and coordinated approaches for attacking the core causes of juvenile delinquency.

Abstract

The overall success of the program in preventing juvenile delinquency was assessed in the 21 funded localities using data on juvenile dispositions, complaints against juveniles, and the incidence of teenage pregnancy and dropout rates. Compared to control localities without Act programs, funded communities showed significant reductions in dispositions of person, property, and substance abuse crime, Further, total juvenile dispositions decreased or showed smaller increases than in nonfunded localities. Program benefits were either maintained or enhanced during the second and third years of funding. In funded communities that had existing delinquency prevention programs, there was a greater reduction in status-offense complaints and an increase in cases disposed at intake. Finally, teenage dropout rates, teenage pregnancy rates, and lack of job skills consistently predicted the rates of court disposition and complaints against juveniles. Results indicate that, overall, the program significiantly influenced a reduction in juvenile dispositions. (Author abstract modified)