VOLUNTEERS AND THE JUVENILE COURT - A STUDY FOR THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION

• NCJ Number: 59745
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 148 pages
• Corporate Author: National Ctr for State Courts; Arthur D Little, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY REVIEWED PROJECTS IN WHICH VOLUNTEERS FULLY PARTICIPATED IN SOME PHASE OF THE JUVENILE COURT PROCESS, IDENTIFIED THREE EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS AND POTENTIAL SITES FOR SUCH PROGRAMS, AND ASSISTED IN REPLICATION.

Abstract

VOLUNTEERS ARE USED IN DIVERSE WAYS IN VARIOUS COURTS. THE PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED WERE GROUPED INTO SIX CATEGORIES: PARAJUDICIAL OPERATIONS, LEGAL FUNCTIONS, EXECUTIVE ACTIVITIES, CRISIS INTERVENTION AND DIVERSION, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND COURT SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES. THERE WERE FIVE KEY STAGES IN THE METHODOLOGY: LITERATURE REVIEW, ONSITE OBSERVATIONS, FIELD DATA ANALYSIS AND PROGRAM IDENTIFICATION, REPLICATION ASSISTANCE, AND FINAL REPORT. ALTHOUGH THE LITERATURE REVIEW YIELDED 25 CANDIDATE CITIES, 13 SITES WERE ACTUALLY VISITED, SEVERAL OF WHICH HAD MORE THAN ONE PROGRAM. A TABLE SUMMARIZES VOLUNTEER CHARACTERISTICS FOR EACH OF THE 18 LOCAL PROGRAMS VISITED. FOR EACH PROGRAM, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRESENTED: CITY AND TITLE OF PROGRAM, DATE THE PROGRAM BEGAN, IMPETUS FOR PROGRAM INITIATION, FUNCTION AND PURPOSE, NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND PAID STAFF, TIME COMMITMENT OF VOLUNTEERS, DEGREE OF AUTHORITY AND INDEPENDENCE, PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS, AND PROBLEMS OR ISSUES REGARDING PROGRAM OPERATIONS. LOCATION OF THE PROGRAMS STUDIED RANGED FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., TO THE STATES OF WASHINGTON, UTAH, ILLINOIS, RHODE ISLAND, ARIZONA, AND MINNESOTA. THE STUDY REACHED THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS: (1) CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT PROGRAMS ARE AS VARIED AS THE NEEDS AND CAPABILITIES OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY ARE FOUND, (2) MOST OF THE LOCAL PROGRAMS EXAMINED WERE HELPFUL TO THE COMMUNITY IN SOME MANNER (RELIEVING THE COURT OF SIGNIFICANT OVERLOAD, DIVERTING MINOR OR FIRST OFFENSE CASES FROM THE COURT, OR PROVIDING NEEDED SERVICES AT MINIMAL COST, AND (3) MANY REASONS EXIST AS TO WHY CITIZENS VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO SUCH PROGRAMS. TABULAR DATA AND TWO APPENDIXES CONTAINING VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS AND RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)