NCJ Number
167103
Date Published
1997
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This paper focuses on the application of the Teens, Crime, and the Community (TCC) Program in school and juvenile justice settings as a means to foster resiliency among youth; it also describes the steps necessary to develop the program in both settings.
Abstract
The TCC Program is a variant of law-related education that is designed to bond youth to their communities, prevent juvenile victimization, and reduce delinquency. TCC, created by the National Institute for Citizen Education in the Law and the National Crime Prevention Council, differs from other LRE approaches, in that emphasis is placed on the prevention of teen victimization. More than 500,000 youths in 40 States have been part of TCC in more than 400 rural, suburban, and urban schools since the program began in 1986. The program is also used in juvenile correctional settings. TCC has three main components: the curriculum, the use of community resources, and service projects. Through the curriculum and service projects, teens can develop a clearer sense of purpose and increase their self- esteem. According to a national evaluation of TCC (Hwalek, 1992), successful implementation of TCC in schools and juvenile justice settings involves five elements. First, persons who will teach the curriculum need to be committed to TCC; second, there must be support from administrators for teachers to be trained and for students to engage in projects; third, the program must show integrity; fourth, students must be involved in the selection, planning, and implementation of projects; fifth, financial resources must be sufficient to support costs related to securing resource people, field trips, and service projects. 12 references