NCJ Number
79034
Date Published
1978
Length
31 pages
Annotation
A procedure manual shows how one home detention program, begun by the Hennepin County Department of Court Services (Minnesota), operated during its first 2 years.
Abstract
The program is designed to maintain youths trouble-free in their homes and in the community while they await juvenile court appearances, so as to provide an alternative to preadjudication secure detention for juveniles. Volunteers are used to provide intensive supervision of juveniles living at home while awaiting court appearances. Paid staff supervise a caseload of five juveniles to supplement the volunteer staff. The manual discusses the development of the program, criteria for home detention, staff assignments, recruitment and screening of volunteers, orientation and training, and evaluation. Evaluation shows a high rate of success with the program, as determined by low rates of runaways and recidivism. The program's cost has averaged $7 per day for each client compared to $50 a day per person in secure detention. Individual interviews with participating juveniles and their parents indicate a high degree of satisfaction with the program's purpose and implementation. Program staff believe the success of the program rests on the combination of accountability and intensive supervision. Reduction of the secure detention population, however, has not been attained, in spite of the large numbers of youth released to the home detention program. This may be due to an increasing number of serious offenses committed by juveniles. Appended are a home detention order, a daily contact log, worker's summary, and materials available. Tabular data are also provided.