OKLAHOMA COUNTY (OK) NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT - AN ASSESSMENT, FEBRUARY 1976

• NCJ Number: 48519
• Author(s): L HINDMAN; B BENNETT
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 47 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: A JOINT PROJECT OF THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JUVENILE BUREAU AND YOUTH SERVICES FOR OKLAHOMA COUNTY, INC

Annotation

AFTER 1 YEAR OF PROJECT OPERATION, A SUBJECTIVE, QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM AIMED AT DEALING WITH DELINQUENCY IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

THE NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICE PROJECT, A JOINT PROJECT OF THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY JUVENILE BUREAU AND YOUTH SERVICES FOR OKLAHOMA COUNTY, INC., OPERATES OUT OF TWO NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICES IN THE TWO AREAS OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY WITH THE HIGHEST INCIDENCE OF DELINQUENCY. EACH OFFICE HOUSES THE PROBATION COUNSELORS CARRYING THE AREA'S REGULAR JUVENILE PROBATION CASELOAD AND A COUNSELOR WHO WORKS WITH PREADJUDICATION, BEYOND-CONTROL YOUTH, AND OTHERS DIVERTED FROM THE FORMAL JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE PROJECT WAS STARTED BECAUSE THE TWO AFFECTED NEIGHBORHOODS ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 60 PERCENT OF THE DELINQUENCY REFERRALS TO THE COURT, AND HIGH CASELOADS AND INADEQUATE PROBATION STAFF MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GIVE THEM PROPER ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE NO PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR YOUTHS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKELY TO COMMIT OFFENSES IN THE FUTURE. INTENSIVE SUPERVISION OF PROBATIONERS IN THE AREA AND THE PROVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES FOR OKLAHOMA COUNTY SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES OF PROBATIONERS ARE THE TWO MAJOR THRUSTS OF THE PROJECT DESIGNED TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM. THE ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED BY INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS THROUGH UNSTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS WITH PROJECT ADMINISTRATION, STAFF, CLIENTS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ANCILLARY AGENCIES HAVING SUBSTANTIAL CONTACT WITH THE PROJECT. ALSO, PROJECT REPORTS AND STATISTICAL DATA PROVIDED BY THE PROJECT ADMINISTRATION WERE ANALYZED. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT THIS IS NOT AN 'EVALUATION' BASED ON HARD FACTS OR EXTENSIVE, LONG-TERM DATA COLLECTION, DUE TO THE PROJECT'S BREVITY OF OPERATION (1 YEAR). IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PROJECT'S FIRST YEAR WAS SUCCESSFUL, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROJECT BE CONTINUED AND REASSESSED AT THE END OF THE SECOND YEAR TO DETERMINE SOLID ACCOMPLISHMENTS. ONE APPENDIX LISTS PERSONS INTERVIEWED DURING SITE VISITS, AND A SECOND APPENDIX COMPARES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND REMEDIATION AS APPROACHES TO PROBLEM SOLVING. (RCB)