NCJ Number
112751
Date Published
Unknown
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the Stop Assaultive Children (SAC) program, Pima County, Ariz., for family violence committed by juveniles, an initiative that addresses both the criminal act and dynamics unique to abusive families.
Abstract
To be considered for the SAC program, the child charged with assaulting a family member must acknowledge responsibility for the act by signing a contract in which he or she agrees to participate in counseling and either do volunteer work or make a donation to a domestic violence service. The parent must also sign and agree to cooperate. Prosecution is deferred for 3 months, and all charges are dismissed if the juvenile completes the program. The report describes Pima County's mandatory arrest policy in domestic violence incidents, how juveniles in the SAC program are classified into four levels, and interfaces between the legal and clinical processes. SAC's use of volunteers and student interns is explained, as is the community's widespread support of domestic violence prevention efforts. Preliminary research indicates some success: in its first 5 months, SAC had a recidivism rate of only 8.9 percent. Moreover, children and families involved attended virtually all counseling sessions. 22 footnotes.