NCJ Number
45989
Date Published
1975
Length
26 pages
Annotation
THE PHILOSOPHY, METHODOLOGY, DIVERSION STRATEGIES, PROBLEMS, AND IMPACT OF THE LOS ANGELES DIVERSION PLANNING AND EVALUATION SYSTEM PROJECT (DPESP), OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO YOUTH SERVICES, ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
THE DPESP REPRESENTS THE RESPONSE OF THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING BOARD TO THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH A LACK OF COMMUNITY-LEVEL COORDINATING MECHANISMS CAPABLE OF IDENTIFYING AND REDIRECTING APPROPRIATE JUVENILES TO YOUTH SERVICES OUTSIDE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. DPESP OBJECTIVES ARE TO DEVELOP A PLANNING METHODOLOGY AND EVALUATION DESIGN CAPABLE OF TRANSLATING JUVENILE JUSTICE AND SOCIAL PROBLEM POLICY INTO GUIDELINES AND OBJECTIVES SUITABLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIVERSION PROJECT ACTIVITIES; TO DEVELOP A MULTISECTOR YOUTH SERVICES CASE-TRACKING SYSTEM CAPABLE OF MEETING ADMINISTRATIVE, EVALUATIVE, AND SERVICE DELIVERY NEEDS; TO DEVELOP PRELIMINARY OPERATIONAL PLANS FOR ONE OF THE PROPOSED DIVERSION PROJECTS; TO CONVEY NECESSARY SKILLS TO PROJECT, COUNTY, AND LOCAL PERSONNEL; AND TO ASSIST A SELECTED PUBLIC SECTOR EVALUATION TEAM. A COMMUNITYWIDE CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES CONCEPTUAL MODEL WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR PROGRAM FUNCTIONS AND OPERATIONS. THE MODEL SPECIFIES A MUTUAL FLOW OF INFORMATION AMONG PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, PROGRAM INFORMATIONAL SERVICES, COMMUNITY CITIZENS, AND THE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM, AS WELL AS A CLIENT FLOW BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY CITIZEN AND SERVICE DELIVERY COMPONENTS. TO MEET PROJECT OBJECTIVES, EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND ACTIVITIES WERE UNDERTAKEN IN FIVE PHASES: PLANNING AND OPERATIONS DESIGN; EVALUATION DESIGN AND PROCEDURE DEVELOPMENT BASED ON NEEDS AND CAPABILITIES, SELECTION OF A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM; REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE SELECTION OF A CONTINUING EVALUATOR; DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING MATERIALS AND ORIENTATION AND TRAINING OF PUBLIC SECTOR PERSONNEL; AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPERATIONAL MASTER PLAN WHICH EXPRESSES THE FISCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, SERVICES, AND INFORMATION AND EVALUATION OPERATIONAL ELEMENTS OF THE DIVERSION PROJECT IN QUESTION. OUTGROWTHS OF THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A YOUTH PROGRAM PLANNING MANUAL, A PROJECT WORK PLAN, CASE DATA AND EVALUATION SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICATIONS, CLIENT INFORMATION SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION, A SECURITY AND PRIVACY MANUAL FOR THE INFORMATION SYSTEM USED, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER PLANNING AND SPECIFICATION DOCUMENTS. (JAP)