NCJ Number
64871
Journal
FSU QUARTERLY Issue: 17 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 13-22
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE INTERMEDIATE TREATMENT CONCEPT, A COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS APPROACH TO JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION, WAS ADOPTED BY DURHAM COUNTY, ENGLAND, IN 1977. RESULTS FROM THE TREATMENT PROJECT ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
SEVEN BOYS, 13 TO 16 YEARS OLD, WERE SELECTED TO MEET WEEKLY FOR 2-HOUR GROUP SESSIONS OVER A PERIOD OF 7 MONTHS TO SHARE EXPERIENCES AND TO TALK ABOUT THE PREVIOUS WEEK'S EVENTS. ALL THE BOYS WERE UNDER SOME FORM OF SUPERVISION OR CARE ORDER DUE TO COURT ACTION; SOME HAD COMMITTED FEW OFFENSES, OTHERS HAD EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL RECORDS. THE BOYS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN ACTIVITY SESSIONS WHICH INVOLVED COOKING, VARIOUS SPORTS, AND TWO FIELD TRIPS. DURING THESE SESSIONS, GROUP LEADERS TRIED TO IMPROVE THE BOYS' WAYS OF MANAGING THEIR LIVES, PARTICULARLY BY HELPING THEM EXPRESS TENSION. IN THE ACTIVITY SESSIONS, GROUP COOPERATION AND INTERACTION WERE ALSO EMPHASIZED. SOCIAL WORKERS OFFERED AN ADDITIONAL 2 HOURS PER WEEK OF DISCUSSION WITH THE BOYS OUTSIDE THE SESSIONS. INTERVIEWS WITH PARENTS, AND GROUP LEADERS REVEALED THAT THE GROUP SESSIONS PROVIDED STIMULATION AND CONSTRUCTIVE OUTLETS. ATTENDANCE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT WAS NEARLY 100 PERCENT EACH WEEK. THE BOYS PREFERRED THE GROUP INTERACTION TO THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SOCIAL WORKERS; NONETHELESS, THE SOCIAL WORKERS WERE NECESSARY FOR A MORE COMPLETE EVALUATION OF THE BOYS' PROGRESS, AND THEIR INPUT SHOULD BE USED MORE FREQUENTLY BY THE GROUP LEADERS. THE GROUP APPEARED TO BE VERY HELPFUL IN DIAGNOSING PROBLEMS AND PROVIDING TREATMENT. PARENTS EXPRESSED ENTHUSIASM FOR THE PROGRAM AND REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT. PLANS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM WERE ACCOMPANIED BY PLANS TO PROVIDE FOLLOWUP ASSISTANCE TO THE BOYS BY PUTTING THEM IN CONTACT WITH INTERESTED VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY. (MHP)