NCJ Number
48139
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION IS PRESENTED OF A SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, PROGRAM DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THE DIVERSION OF TRUANTS, RUNAWAYS, AND OTHER 601 (STATUS) OFFENDERS FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
THE DIVERSION PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF REDUCING ANTICIPATED 601 REFERRALS BY 66 PERCENT; EXPANDING AND IMPROVING NECESSARY COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES WITHIN THE PARTICIPATING ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTIONS; AND DEMONSTRATING, TESTING, AND EVALUATING THE DIVERSION PROGRAM MODEL. A SPECIAL PROJECT UNIT WAS CREATED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE FULL-TIME SERVICES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS REGARDING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL AND BUDGETARY ASSISTANCE. EACH POLICE JURISDICTION APPOINTED A DIVERSION OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING EFFORTS. TWENTY-ONE HOURS OF TRAINING WERE OFFERED TO POLICE OFFICERS, MOSTLY DIVERSION SPECIALISTS, BY THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. THE PROGRAM'S FIRST OBJECTIVE, A TWO-THIRDS REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS, WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN EACH OF THE FIRST 2 YEARS. PREDELINQUENT REFERRALS AMOUNTED TO 65.5 PERCENT OF ALL 601 REFERRALS THE FIRST YEAR AND 62.9 PERCENT THE SECOND. RECIDIVISM ATES FOR PREDELINQUENT YOUTHS WHO WERE DIVERTED AWAY FROM PROBATION TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUGGEST THAT DIVERSION IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN BOOKING IN HELPING YOUTH AVOID FURTHER TROUBLE. REGARDING THE SECOND GOAL, RESEARCH AND EVALUATION FINDINGS SHOW THAT POLICE MADE SOME ADVANCEMENTS IN THE USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, BUT HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY STIMULATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE AND RESPONSIVE AGENCIES TO SERVE 601 YOUTH. ASIDE FROM HOME-BASED PROBLEM RESOLUTION, POLICE HAVE RECOMMENDED GENERALIZED COUNSELING IN THE MAJORITY OF DIVERSIONS. POLICE HAVE ALSO ADVISED MANY 601'S TO SEEK SERVICES SUCH AS TEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE SHELTER, GROUP ORGANIZED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY, AND DRUG COUNSELING. HAD THERE BEEN NO PROGRAM, THE NUMBER OF 601 JUVENILES PREDICTED TO BE REFERRED TO THE COUNTY'S JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT DURING THE 2-YEAR PROJECT WOULD HAVE COST THE COUNTY $1,785,319 AND 51,654 HOURS IN THE DELIVERY OF VARIOUS SERVICES. THE PROGRAM YIELDED A FINAL SAVINGS OF $531,350 AND AN INDETERMINATE AMOUNT OF TIME. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DEMONSTRATING THAT: (1) A LARGE NUMBER OF PREDELINQUENTS CAN BE HANDLED OUTSIDE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM; (2) THESE DIVERSIONS CAN OCCUR AT FIRST CONTACT WITH THE POLICE IN THE FIELD; (3) YOUTH DIVERTED DO AT LEAST AS WELL AS THOSE NOT DIVERTED, AND USUALLY BETTER; (4) A LARGE NUMBER OF POLICE AGENCIES CAN COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT; AND (5) SUBSTANTIAL COST SAVINGS CAN BE REALIZED. (KBL)