NCJ Number
48616
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (1973) Pages: 255-258
Date Published
1973
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT UTILIZES MENTAL HEALTH METHODS AT THE POLICE LEVEL IS DESCRIBED, AS ARE EVALUATIVE METHODS AND MEASURES.
Abstract
CITING THE HUGE VOLUME OF JUVENILES CONTACTING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN A GIVEN YEAR AND THE GENERL INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE COURT SYSTEM IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM, PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION AT THE POLICE LEVEL IS RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE YOUTH NOT ACCUSED OF COMMITTING SERIOUS CRIMES. RECOGNIZING THE LIMITED NUMBER OF EFFECTIVE DIVERSION ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE AT THE POLICE LEVEL IN COSTA MESA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, THE PROPOSED PLAN UTILIZES SERVICES TO JUVENILES AND THEIR FAMILIES UPON REFERRAL FROM THE POLICE. CONTACT WITH THE POLICE WILL BE MAINTAINED TO PRESERVE A COOPERATIVE SPIRIT. THE PROJECT STAFF WILL BE COMPOSED OF THREE FULL-TIME WORKERS IN THE FIELD, SUPPORTED BY A DIRECTOR, AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND A SECRETARY. POLICY WILL BE SET BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPOSED OF PROJECT, POLICE, AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES. THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF STAFF WILL BE SERVED BY THE ASSIGNMENT OF UNPAID FIELD STUDY STUDENTS FROM THE PROGRAM IN SOCIAL ECONOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT IRVINE. STUDENTS WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE JUVENILES. THE ACTIVITIES OF THE THE PROJECT STAFF WILL INCLUDE: PROBLEM ASSESSMENT; SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION; REFERRAL TO LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SIMILAR AGENCIES; COORDINATION OF EFFORRTS BY PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCIES SUCH AS SCHOOL, RECREATION CENERS, AND 'RAP CENTERS'; USE OF A BIG BROTHER / BIG SISTER PROGRAM; AND LONG-TERM PERSONAL FOLLOWUP. SCREENING WILL BE DONE INITIALLY BY ONE OF THE JUVENILE OFFICERS AND THEN BY PROJECT STAFF, WITH ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING CONSIDERATIONS: PREVIOUS POLICE CONTACTS, TYPE OF OFFENSE, PERSONALITY OF THE JUVENILE, AND FAMILY CONSTELLATION. THE CENTRAL MEASURE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE RECIDIVISM RATES, INCLUDING POLICE CONTACTS AS WELL AS ARRESTS AND COURT REFERRALS. EVALUATIONS OF CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR WILL BE MADE BY QUESTIONNAIRES GIVEN TO PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS. CORRELATIONAL, PROFILE, AND LINEAR REGRESSION METHODS WILL BE USED IN EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTAKE INFORMATION (PERSONAL AND SOCIAL) AND OPTIMUM TREATMENT MODALITY. A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT WILL BE CONDUCTED, AND THE ATTITUDES OF POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY TOWARD THE PROJECT WILL BE MONITORED THROUGH INTERVIEWS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)