OKLAHOMA COUNTY (OK) NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT - A SECOND-YEAR ASSESSMENT, NOVEMBER 1976

• NCJ Number: 48520
• Author(s): L ROCAWICH; B BENNETT
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 103 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Oklahoma Crime Cmssn
• Corporate Author: Associates for Youth Development, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• 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

INTERVIEWS AND QUESTIONNAIRES ARE USED TO ASSESS THE WORK OF NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICES DESIGNED TO INTENSIFY PROBATION SUPERVISION AND PREADJUDICATION SERVICES TO JUVENILES IN HIGH CRIME NEIGHBORHOODS.

Abstract

THE PROJECT, WHICH IS FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE OKLAHOMA CRIME COMMISSION, IS AIMED AT DEALING EFFECTIVELY WITH THE PROBLEMS OF DELINQUENCY AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION IN CLOSER PROXIMITY TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM OPERATES OUT OF TWO NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICES LOCATED IN THE TWO AREAS OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY HAVING THE HIGHEST INCIDENCE OF DELINQUENCY. EACH OFFICE HOUSES THE PROBATION COUNSELORS CARRYING THE AREA'S REGULAR JUVENILE PROBATION CASELOAD (THE JUVENILE BUREAU'S COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM) AND A COUNSELOR EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTY'S YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU WHO WORKS WITH PREADJUDICATION SERVICES, BEYOND-CONTROL YOUTH, AND OTHERS DIVERTED FROM THE FORMAL JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE PROJECT INTENDS TO PROVIDE A MULTISERVICE APPROACH TO PROBLEMSOLVING, A DECREASE IN PROBATION CASELOADS, INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENTS, NONDELINQUENT COURT REFERRALS, AND FUTURE DELINQUENT ACTS, AS WELL AS THE MAINTENANCE OF THE VOLUNTEER COMPONENT OF THE YOUTH SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM. THE ASSESSMENT TEAM EMPLOYED A QUESTIONNAIRE, DISTRIBUTED TO REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAD INTERACTED WITH THE PROJECT. OF THE 46 QUESTIONNAIRES DISTRIBUTED, 26 WERE COMPLETED AND RETURNED. IN ADDITION TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE, THE ASSESSMENT TEAM CONDUCTED ONSITE INTERVIEWS WITH PROJECT STAFF AND OTHER PERSONNEL IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL SERVICE FIELDS. PROJECT DOCUMENTS WERE ALSO REVIEWED. THE ASSESSMENT TEAM IS HIGHLY POSITIVE TOWARD THE CONCEPT ITSELF, THE STAFF, AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICES. HOWEVER, EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF STATED GOALS IS CONSIDERED AMBIGUOUS AND SKETCHY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE NATURE OF THE GOALS THEMSELVES, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE RECONSIDERED AND RESTATED. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDED A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND THE RESPONSES, AS WELL AS SOME SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING TEAM BUILDING AND CALCULATING PROGRAM COSTS. (RCB)