LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY (KY) - JUVENILE RESTITUTION PROJECT - A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 66949
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 27 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-ED-AX-0119
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Kentucky Dept for Human Services
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT PROVIDES A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF A JUVENILE RESTITUTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY., IN 1979 AND FUNDED BY LEAA.

Abstract

PROGRAM GOALS ARE TO INVOLVE 400 YOUTHS PER YEAR TO PROVIDE PARTIAL REDRESS FOR VICTIMS OF JUVENILE CRIME, TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF RESTITUTION, TO DEVELOP AN INCREASED SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN YOUTHS, TO INCREASE CONFIDENCE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND TO REDUCE COMMITMENTS AND RECIDIVISM. THE EVALUATION WAS BASED ON EXAMINATION OF THE PROGRAM'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY WERE MET BY SEPTEMBER 30, 1979. THE POPULATION STUDIED INCLUDED YOUTHS ADMITTED TO THE PROJECT FROM MARCH 1, 1979, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1979. DURING THIS PERIOD 76 VICTIMS RECEIVED COMPENSATION AND 7 VICTIMS RECEIVED SYMBOLIC RESTITUTION. ALL VICTIMS SURVEYED FELT THAT THE PROGRAM SHOULD CONTINUE. OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE 71 YOUTHS INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM FINISHED IT SUCCESSFULLY. AVERAGE AGE OF THOSE IN THE PROGRAM WAS 15.9 YEARS. ALL THE YOUTHS WERE MALES. THREE-FIFTHS WERE WHITE AND TWO-FIFTHS BLACK. MOST WERE FIRST AND SECOND OFFENDERS. BURGLARY WAS THE MOST COMMON OFFENSE. AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN THE PROGRAM WAS 2.5 MONTHS. TOTAL RESTITUTION PAID WAS $6,595 AND 430 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE. AVERAGE RESTITUTION ORDERED WAS $198. THE PROGRAM HAS SUCCEEDED IN PROVIDING PARTIAL REDRESS FOR VICTIMS OF JUVENILE CRIME AND HAS ENHANCED THE IMAGE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. NEVERTHELESS, IT HAS FAILED TO ATTAIN ITS PROJECTED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS. DATA ON RECIDIVISM ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. TO OBTAIN MORE REFERRALS, JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, AND COURT ASSESSMENT WORKERS SHOULD BE KEPT INFORMED OF THE PROGRAM. A CONTINUOUS AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RESTITUTION STAFF AND ASSESSMENT STAFF SHOULD BE FOSTERED. PROVISION OF VOLUNTEER PROBATION OFFICERS TO EACH YOUTH IN THE PROGRAM MIGHT HELP YOUTHS INTERNALIZE MORE POSITIVE VALUES OVER A LONGER TIME PERIOD. A FOOTNOTE AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)