NCJ Number
83620
Date Published
1981
Length
266 pages
Annotation
Developed by public and private groups in St. Paul, Minn., this juvenile delinquency prevention curriculum first presents information on juvenile crime and the juvenile justice system to ninth graders and then has these students teach crime prevention to fourth graders.
Abstract
The curriculum is scheduled for a 12-week period as part of the social sciences program. The project begins with an orientation unit and then covers juvenile crimes of arson, vandalism, and shoplifting in weeks two through four. The next 3 weeks address law enforcement, the juvenile court, and juvenile corrections. After 2 weeks of preparation in elementary lesson planning and presentation, students spend the final weeks in peer teaching at neighborhood elementary schools. The course capitalizes on students' own experiences as victims of crime, rather than considering them culprits to be lectured on citizenship. The students also keep logs of their daily activities and are encouraged to take notes during class sessions. Curriculum features include a videotape of what happens to a juvenile caught robbing a gas station, field trips, speakers from the community, and discussions with victims of crime and law enforcement personnel on the effects of vandalism and other juvenile crimes. This curriculum guide outlines lesson plans for each week, lists vocabulary words which may be unfamiliar to students, and identifies instructional aids. Also provided are additional references, outlines for outside speakers, discussion questions, assignments, and evaluation questionnaires. Other suggestions focus on discussion groups, scheduling, evaluation, and teacher training.