NCJ Number
55162
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
THE SUCCESS OF THE JUVENILE OFFENDER PROJECT IN BARABOO, WIS., IN MEETING ITS OBJECTIVES OF IMPROVING THE EMPLOYABILITY AND EDUCATION LEVEL OF CLIENTS AND REDUCING INCARCERATION AND RECIDIVISM IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
THE JUVENILE OFFENDER PROJECT HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE APRIL 1977. IT IS A COMPONENT OF RENEWAL UNLIMITED, A WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM IN WISCONSIN; AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING WISCONSIN COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE FUNDS SINCE APRIL 1978. THE JUVENILE OFFENDER PROJECT OFFERS A WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM AND AN INDIVIDUALIZED GENERAL EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (GED) PROGRAM. THE PROJECT HAS THREE PRIMARY GOALS: (1) TO PROVIDE A DISPOSITIONAL ALTERNATIVE TO THE JUVENILE COURT OF SAUK COUNTY, WIS., (2) TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF RECIDIVISM OF RENEWAL UNLIMITED JUVENILES; AND (3) TO INCREASE THE EMPLOYABILITY AND EDUCATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN SAUK COUNTY, WIS. IT IS NOTED THAT 100 PERCENT OF THE CLIENTS SERVED HAD NO ADDITIONAL CONTACTS WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM WHILE INVOLVED WITH THE PROJECT. IN ADDITION, 67 PERCENT OF THOSE LEAVING THE PROJECT EITHER HAD A JOB OR THEIR GED. AN OBJECTIVE OF A 40 PERCENT REDUCTION IN INCARCERATIONS WAS NOT REACHED; HOWEVER, A 30 PERCENT REDUCTION DID OCCUR. THE SPECIFIC RECIDIVISM OBJECTIVE WAS TO HAVE 70 PERCENT OF ALL CLIENTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE PROJECT REMAIN WITHOUT CONTACT WITH THE SYSTEM FOR AN 8-MONTH PERIOD AFTER DISCHARGE. THIS OBJECTIVE HAS NOT YET BEEN MEASURED. IN THE AREA OF EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION, 50 PERCENT OF THE CLIENTS LEAVING THE PROJECT ENTERED EMPLOYMENT UPON TERMINATION OF THE PROGRAM. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT 50 PERCENT OF THOSE LEAVING THE PROGRAM HAS THEIR GED. INFORMATION ON THE ABILITY OF RESTITUTION CLIENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR CONTRACTS SUCCESSFULLY WAS NOT AVAILABLE. TABLES AND RELEVANT CORRESPONDENCE ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)