NCJ Number
67632
Date Published
1979
Length
220 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS OF AN EVALUATION OF MANAGERIAL AND SERVICE ISSUES RELATED TO THREE JUVENILE DIVERSION PROJECTS IN NEW YORK CITY ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE THREE PROJECTS ARE THE JUVENILE OFFENDER DIVERSION PROJECT, THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, AND THE HARLEM JUVENILE DIVERSION PROJECT. THE JUVENILE OFFENDER DIVERSION PROJECT DIVERTS YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS ARRESTED IN THE SUBWAY AT THE POINT OF ARREST. THE PROJECT DIVERTS OVER 600 YOUTHS PER YEAR AND HAS ONLY 2 CASE CONTACTS PER CLIENT. THE AGENCY WAS FOUND TO BE AN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AND SWIFT CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM BUT DID NOT HAVE AS FIRM CONTROL OVER THE REFERRAL SERVICES AS OVER CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES. THE PROJECT MAINTAINED EXCELLENT RECORDS AND SHOULD NOT EXPAND OTHER SERVICES. THE OTHER TWO PROJECTS FOCUS ON LONG-TERM SERVICE DELIVERY AND ARE COMMUNITY-BASED. THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SKILLS PROJECTS IS STRUCTURED ON THE MILIEU MODEL. DESPITE FUNDING INSTABILITY, THE PROJECT WAS FOUND TO BE A VITAL DIVERSION PROJECT WHICH USED ITS LIMITED RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY. THE HARLEM JUVENILE DIVERSION PROJECT USES THE TRADITIONAL CASEWORK MODEL BUT HAS HAD HIGH STAFF TURNOVER DUE TO LOW SALARIES. THUS, THE PROJECT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AT OPTIMUM AT THE TIME OF THE EVALUATION. THE PROJECT HAS A LARGE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND USED AN APPROACH THAT APPEARED TO BE TOO FORMAL AND INTERMITTENT TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH DIVERTED YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED DROPOUTS. ALL THREE PROJECTS HANDLE MOSTLY MALE OFFENDERS. ALL THE PROJECTS TAKE THE ATTITUDE THAT DWELLING ON THE CRIME WOULD BE AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF DIVERSION. ONLY THE NATIONAL EVALUATION CAN DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROJECTS WILL PREVENT RECIDIVISM. ALL THREE PROJECTS DIVERT JUVENILES EFFECTIVELY, AVOID ALL LABELING OF CLIENTS, AND DELIVER SERVICES NECESSARY TO THEIR CLIENTS. A DISCUSSION OF THE EVALUATION APPROACH, DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH PROJECT, AND APPENDIXES PRESENTING DISCUSSIONS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO THE HARLEM PROJECT AND RELATED INFORMATION ARE INCLUDED.