POLK COUNTY (1A) - EVALUATION OF THE SHERIFF'S YOUTH BUREAU, NOVEMBER 1977

• NCJ Number: 45721
• Author(s): M STEVENS; P BLOOD
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 23 pages
• Grant Number(s): 703-75-04-7700-72-07
• Sponsoring Agency: Iowa Crime Cmssn; US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Iowa Crime Cmssn
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF A TWO-MAN YOUTH BUREAU ASSIGNED TO HANDLE JUVENILE CASES AND SCHOOL LIAISON ACTIVITIES FOR THE POLK COUNTY, IOWA, SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARE ASSESSED.

Abstract

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE YOUTH BUREAU ARE TO INCREASE CLEARANCE RATES FOR JUVENILE CRIMES, TO ESTABLISH CLOSER RAPPORT WITH YOUTH, TO PROVIDE EARLY IMPLEMENT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AND CASELOAD OF THE JUVENILE COURT, AND TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF HANDLING JUVENILE CASES. THE YOUTH BUREAU OFFICERS WORK PRIMARILY IN SCHOOLS IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY, ATTEMPTING TO GAIN THE TRUST AND RESPECT OF STUDENTS THROUGH INFORMAL CONTACTS. THE SECOND-YEAR EVALUATION INDICATES THAT THE YOUTH OFFICERS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN INCREASING CLEARANCE RATES FOR JUVENILE CRIMES BY 42.7 PERCENT OVER THE FIRST PROJECT YEAR AND BY 46.7 PERCENT OVER THE PREPROJECT RATE. THE OFFICERS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL AND PREVENTIVE CONTACTS WITH YOUTHS IN THE SECOND PROJECT YEAR AND WERE ABLE TO HANDLE 81.6 PERCENT OF ALL CASES WITHOUT RESORTING TO OFFICIAL COURT CHANNELS. THESE AND OTHER FINDINGS LEAD TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE YOUTH BUREAU IS PERFORMING WELL AND PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT SERVICE TO THE SCHOOLS AND TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT THE OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR THE BUREAU REPRESENT ONLY 1.6 PERCENT OF THE COUNTY'S TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR YOUTH SERVICES. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)