NCJ Number
195958
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2002 Pages: 245-256
Date Published
May 2002
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article evaluates a juvenile offender curfew checks program in Palm Bay, FL.
Abstract
Florida legislation of 1998 allows law enforcement officers to detain juvenile offenders who are in violation of court sanctions. The legislation also approves funding authorization for a pilot program allowing for enforcement of court-ordered curfews by police officers rather than by probation officers. Community policing partnerships, along with recent progressive legislation, have allowed for information sharing, collective enforcement, and shared responsibility. During the curfew check program period, nonviolent offenses were down 28 percent. Although the decreases were seen only in nonviolent crimes, some program participants had a more than 50 percent decrease: "The rates decreased when the curfew checks were instituted, and increased when the checks were discontinued." While cost effectiveness has not been assessed, the reduction in crime warrants continuation of the program and further evaluation of its impact. In conclusion, a program using police officers to supervise juvenile offenders does reduce criminal behavior, and parents and officers have positive views of the program. Figure, tables, references