NCJ Number
77112
Date Published
1981
Length
36 pages
Annotation
This report examines the extent to which the objectives of the Juvenile Restitution Project of Jefferson County, Ky., have been realized; population characteristics of youth admitted to the project are highlighted.
Abstract
The grant for the project was awarded by LEAA in October 1978, and referrals were initially received in March 1979. The overall project goal was to involve 400 youths per year in the program. The program provides partial redress for victims of juvenile crime, enhancing the image of the juvenile justice system and reducing the number of youth committed to juvenile institutions. Youths adjudicated for property offenses and some nonproperty offenses are referred to the project by the district court. If the court orders monetary restitution, the project locates work for the youth and monitors job progress. Symbolic restitution can take the form of volunteer work or victim service hours. The primary methodology of this evaluation involves an update of those youths admitted to the project from October 1, 1979, through October 31, 1980. Findings reveal that by the conclusion of the second project year, the project has been successful in obtaining positive results with victims and offenders. Since the program's 1979 inception, 288 victims have received or are receiving compensation from youths in the program. Thus far, 90.0 percent of the youths have paid back all of the money ordered by the court. In a survey administered to 25 percent of those youths participating in the program, 94.1 percent said that they were pleased to have a job. Approximately 91 percent felt that restitution was a fair punishment. Results from a survey of victims involved with the program show that almost 74 percent said that the court was more fair than they had previously believed. Over 90 percent of those youths finishing the program have done so successfully. The average length of stay in the program was 3 months, the average age of the participants was 15.9 years, and approximately 94 percent of the youths were male. Problems with the project include lack of the projected number of referrals and little or no impact on the number of youths incarcerated. Survey results, 2 references and 12 tables are included.