DENVER - PROJECT COPE (COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROBATION EXPERIMENT) - INTERIM EVALUATION REPORT, APRIL-DECEMBER 1973

• NCJ Number: 15630
• Author(s): M J Molof
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 10 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-IC-0069
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FIRST NINE MONTHS OF A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTENSIVE CASE TREATMENT AND SUPERVISION IN DEALING WITH JUVENILE PROBATIONERS.

Abstract

COMMUNITY-BASED PARAPROFESSIONALS (COPE WORKERS) WORKED WITH PROBATION COUNSELORS IN OFFERING TEAM ORIENTED SERVICES THROUGH LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH OFFICES. PROJECT OBJECTIVES INCLUDED THE REDUCTION OF RECIDIVISM AMONG JUVENILE PROBATIONERS WITH A BACKGROUND OF HIGH IMPACT CRIMES OR AUTO THEFT OFFENSES BY PROVIDING DIVERSIFICATION AND NEW SERVICES. NINE HUNDRED THIRTY IMPACT JUVENILE OFFENDERS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM DURING THIS FIRST NINE MONTH PERIOD. THE PROJECT ENCOUNTERED AND RESOLVED SEVERAL PROBLEMS. AMONG THESE WERE HIGH TURNOVER AMONG COPE WORKERS, LACK OF FUNCTIONING OF SOME OF THE OUTREACH OFFICES, CONFLICTS BETWEEN COPE WORKERS AND PROBATION COUNSELORS, LACK OF DETAILED ONGOING PROGRAM DATA, AND DIFFICULTY IN COLLECTING AND RETRIEVING DATA ON PROBATIONERS. THESE LAST TWO PROBLEMS HAVE DELAYED ANY QUANTIFIABLE ASSESSMENT OF THE PROGRAM.