NCJ Number
29046
Date Published
1975
Length
153 pages
Annotation
STUDY OF NEEDED AND EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICES WHICH WORK OUTSIDE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO TREAT UNRULY YOUTH, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FORMING A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED NETWORK OF SUCH SERVICES.
Abstract
UNRULY YOUTH ARE DEFINED IN FRANKLIN CO. (SHICH INCLUDES COLUMBUS) AS TRUANTS, RUNAWAYS AND INCORRIGIBLES. THE REPORT REVIEWS THE NUMBER AND CHARACTERISTICS OF UNRULY YOUTH AND OUTLINES THE EXISTING TREATMENT OF SUCH YOUTH AS PROVIDED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THE SCHOOLS, AND 62 COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES. IT IS ASSUMED THAT SOCIETY'S SELF-INTEREST IS SERVED BY THE EXISTENCE OF EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL SERVICES FOR UNRULY YOUTH, AND THEN CONCLUDED THAT THESE SERVICES ARE BEST PROVIDED AND COORDINATED BY A CENTRALIZED AUTHORITY. THE UNRULY YOUTH PROJECT, OPERATED BY THE FRANKLIN COUNTY CHILDREN'S SERVICE (FCCS) SINCE 1973, IS DESCRIBED AT LENGTH. THIS PROJECT HAS IN PART SERVED AS THIS CENTRAL AUTHORITY, AND HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY PLANNER AND PROVIDER OF SERVICE. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS STUDY FOR A COMMUNITY SERVICE SYSTEM WOULD SHIFT THE PROJECT'S ROLE TO THAT OF A MAJOR PARTNER AND CHIEF SOURCE OF SKILLED SUPERVISORY STAFF. THE SYSTEM WOULD PROVIDE 24-HOUR, DECENTRALIZED INTAKE AND WOULD SEEK IMPROVEMENT OF PRESENT SERVICES AND CREATION OF NEW SERVICES. THE PROPOSED SYSTEM WOULD CONSIST OF THREE ORGANIZATIONAL MECHANISMS - A POLICY-MAKING AND SUPERVISORY GROUP (TO INCLUDE YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES), A GROUP OF TASK FORCES EACH FOCUSING ON AN ASPECT OF THE SYSTEM, AND AN AGENCY GROUP CONSISTING OF THOSE AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PLANNING AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES. THE REPORT DISCUSSES SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF THE SYSTEM, A REQUISITE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS MEASURES.