NCJ Number
80473
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Dated: (November 1981) Pages: 49-57
Date Published
1981
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This analysis of the Juvenile Court Public Service Work Program in Winnebago County, Ill., concludes that assigning youths public service work as a condition of probation offers a remedy to the current dilemma over devising fiscally sound but progressive programs.
Abstract
The goals of the Winnebago County project emphasize mutual obligations and communication between juvenile offenders and the community. Probation personnel and the program director screen potential candidates for public service work, but their recommendations are subject to final approval by the court. Youths who receive public service work as a condition of probation are instructed to meet with the program director for a preassignment interview, are then assigned, monitored by volunteer supervisors, and terminated upon completion of the assigned hours. Work activities can vary from maintenance chores at public parks to assisting handicapped children. Since its inception in April 1979, 139 youths are currently enrolled, and 19 have been removed for failure to fulfill the requirements. The majority have been white males from families where the household head had some level of high school education and was employed in a semiskilled or skilled occupation. Although these minors are not antisocial or dangerous, they have experienced school difficulties and been involved in serious delinquencies. Problems encountered in the program have included communication lapses and scheduling delays as well as ambiguity over program objectives among youths, parents, and work supervisors. A final difficulty encompasses disciplinary measures, since the usual motivations of money, prestige, and mobility are not available. Youths are given ample opportunity to avoid formal disciplinary proceedings, but can be removed from the program and have their probation revoked if these options fail. Instead of viewing public service work as coercive, it should be perceived as a program which encourages offenders to amend for wrongdoings. Tables and three footnotes are provided.