NCJ Number
54433
Journal
YOUTH AUTHORITY QUARTERLY Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 3-9
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
SERVICES PROVIDED BY YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS FUNDED BY THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY ARE CONSIDERED, AND TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS ARE EXPLORED.
Abstract
IT IS DIFFICULT TO MEASURE CRIME PREVENTION, DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, A COMMUNITY'S CHANGED ATTITUDE ABOUT YOUTH, AND CHANGED ATTITUDES OF YOUTH ABOUT POLICE, SCHOOL, AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL. COMPLICATED RESEARCH DEVICES MAY BE ABLE TO MEASURE RECIDIVISM OR CHANGES IN GRADE POINT AVERAGES AND TRUANCY FOR CERTAIN IDENTIFIED CLIENTS, BUT IS IS A DIFFICULT TASK TO MEASURE CHANGES IN PEOPLE WHO NEVER SHOW UP ON CASELOADS OF SOCIAL AGENCIES BUT WHO ARE, NONETHELESS, AFFECTED BY THESE AGENCIES. THE REAL IMPACT OF YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS MAY NOT BE SO MUCH ON IDENTIFED CLIENTS REFERRED TO THEM AS IT IS ON INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WORK TOGETHER IN PROVIDING SERVICES. INCREASING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT, CHANGING NEGATIVE ATTITUDES, AND EXPOSING YOUTH AND ADULTS TO NEW EXPERIENCES AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE PART OF THE GOALS SET UP BY EIGHT YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS FUNDED BY THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY AND OPERATING IN THE STATE SINCE JULY 1976. A MAJOR THRUST OF THE BUREAUS IS TO PROVIDE YOUTH WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY. ALL BUREAUS ATTEMPT TO INVOLVE YOUTH IN HELPING OTHER YOUTH. IN ADDITION TO BEING INDIRECTLY INVOLVED IN CRIME AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACTIVITIES THROUGH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, THE BUREAUS ARE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN SPECIFIC CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES (SHOPLIFTING, BLOCK WATCH, AND GANG INTERVENTION). FUNDING FOR THE BUREAUS, THEIR INTERACTION WITH SCHOOLS, AND THE EXTENT OF INVOLVEMENT ON THE PART OF CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARDS ARE DISCUSSED. (DEP)