NCJ Number
81763
Date Published
1980
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The Todd-Wadena Counties Community Concern for Youth, a juvenile delinquency prevention and diversion program in north central Minnesota, is described.
Abstract
To help reduce delinquency petitions in Todd and Wadena counties, the Community Concern for Youth program provides services as an alternative to a court appearance for youth charged with delinquency acts and other youth considered by parents or their schools to need counseling. The program provides counseling to these youth and their parents. The program also diverts youth to other programs that may better serve their needs. Services provided by the program include long-term and short-term counseling, recreation services, and school advocacy. From January 1, 1977, through June 15, 1979, the average time spent helping a client was 19 hours, while the average cost per client-hour of project service was $33. The average cost per client was $420. Most of the clients (98.9 percent) during this time were white and were referred to the program by the police, school, parents, and other community agents. Reasons for the referrals ranged from the commission of a property crime or drug offense to problems with the school and the client's family. The goal of the program has been to limit to less than 20 percent of the proportion of previous clients referred to juvenile court within 6 months after program completion. As of August 15, 1979, only 20 of the 193 clients (10.4 percent) for whom followup data are available has been referred to juvenile court. Tabular data are provided. (Author summary modified)