NCJ Number
87422
Date Published
1981
Length
36 pages
Annotation
Evaluation results are presented for Florida's pilot Resource Allocation Project, which was intended to divert juveniles from unnecessary penetration into the juvenile justice system by shifting resources to programs more commensurate with a delinquent's presumed degree of risk.
Abstract
The Lancaster Youth Development Center (a 201-bed institution) was transferred to the Department of Corrections. Funds provided from that transfer were distributed to 'front-end' services: increased intake staff, a network of diversion programs, and Community Control (probation) work programs. By reallocating resources to diversion and prevention services, the plan intended to achieve a sequential reduction in probation caseloads, commitments, and training school populations. This evaluation is the followup to the preliminary evaluation report (Nov. 15, 1980), which assessed the implementation and impact of the project during the first 6 months of operation. This evaluation assesses recent system rates and the achievement of the project's objectives. Districts III and V have experienced significant decreases in Community Control caseloads since the pilot project began. Although District VI did not display as large a percentage decrease, it was significantly above the statewide average. The pilot districts in general have experienced a less significant increase in judicial handling rates compared to the nonpilot districts, however, although the number of training school placements have declined statewide, the pilot districts have displayed no consistent decline in such placements. Overall, with no loss in the delivery of needed services, no reduction and in some cases increased effectiveness and considerable cost savings, the juvenile system is operating more efficiently than before resource reallocation in the pilot districts. Graphic and tabular data are provided. (Author summary modified)