NCJ Number
67858
Date Published
1980
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT PROFILES THE WESTCOTT YOUTH ORGANIZATION (WYO) OF SYRACUSE, N.Y., WHICH WAS FORMED IN 1974 TO REDUCE URBAN YOUTH CRIME THROUGH GROUP PEER PRESSURE AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
Abstract
WYO WAS CREATED AS A PERMANENT, YOUTH-CONTROLLED, MULTIISSUE, MULTISERVICE ORGANIZATION TO SERVE THE WESTCOTT AREA OF SYRACUSE. ITS GOALS ARE TO REDUCE JUVENILE CRIME AND FOSTER COMMUNITY COOPERATION BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE TEEN CENTER WAS FORMED WITH THE COOPERATION OF YOUTH LEADERS, AS WELL AS LOCAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS. SOME OF THE WAYS TO ESTABLISH UNITY INCLUDED MAKING MEMBERSHIP A STATUS SYMBOL AMONG THE YOUTHS AND CREATING VISIBILITY OF ITS MEMBERS THROUGH THE USE OF LOGOS, BUTTONS, I.D. CARDS, RECREATION ACTIVITIES, A MOTTO, AND RAP SESSIONS, WYO RUNS SEVERAL COMMUNITY, YOUTH-ORIENTED, AND YOUTH-SPONSORED PROGRAMS SUCH AS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL, A TUTORIAL PROJECT, A NEIGHBORHOOD RECREATION PROGRAM, A YOUTH INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM, A LIGHT HAULING AND MOVING COMPANY, AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY SURVIVAL PROGRAMS. AFTER ITS FIRST 3 YEARS OF OPERATION, WYO HAD CONTRIBUTED TO LOWERING THE AREA RATE OF JUVENILE CRIME BY 37 PERCENT.