NCJ Number
79715
Date Published
Unknown
Length
68 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are presented from an evaluation of Florida's Nonsecure Detention (NSD) program.
Abstract
The NSD program is designed to handle youths who can be supervised in their own homes as well as youths who, for certain reasons, cannot be returned to their own homes. The supervision is provided by community youth leaders (CYL's) in one of three settings: (1) home detention, with the CYL providing intensive supervision of youths living in their homes; (2) attention homes, where the CYL provides supervision to youths in homes under contract to care for youths who cannot be returned to their own homes; and (3) volunteer homes, which operate as attention homes, but without pay. The evaluation's primary objective was to conduct a managerial assessment of the program to identify variations from philosophy and cases underlying these variations. The data used in the evaluation came from that generated by each NSD program site and through surveys of juvenile judges and interviews with NSD personnel. Site visits were conducted to programs in Pensacola, Tampa, and Miami to meet with program personnel, intake counselors, and juvenile judges. Overall conclusions are that NSD does seem to substitute for secure detention, using less coercion and less cost without widening the detention net. While program improvements are possible, the problems they correct are not major. Although the program may sometimes be misused by the judges, it receives their strong support. Twelve recommendations for program improvement are offered. Tabular data, including information from a cost-effective analysis, are provided.