MEMPHIS (TN) - BUILDING SUPPORT FOR JUVENILE DIVERSION A CASE STUDY OF THE MEMPHIS YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 59016
• Author(s): L Ladd; M Lynch
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 43 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-008-77
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: National Office for Social Responsibility
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE MEMPHIS-METRO YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED. THIS SUCCESSFUL 1 YEAR PROGRAM WHICH BENEFITED 1,500 YOUNG PERSONS RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM 39 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY AGENCIES.

Abstract

IN 1976, THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, LEAA, USING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT (1974) FUNDED A VARIETY OF SPECIAL EMPHASIS YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAMS TO TEST VARIOUS MEANS OF DIVERTING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE PRIMARY REASON OF THE SUCCESS OF THE MEMPHIS PROGRAM (ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL OF THESE PROGRAMS) WAS THE STAFF'S ABILITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY--COURT, POLICE, PROBATION STAFF, COMMUNITY AGENCIES, AND OTHERS. THIS REPORT DOCUMENTS THE PROGRAM WITH SECTIONS ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMUNITY IN MEMPHIS, AND HOW COMMUNITY SUPPORT WAS ENLISTED AND IMPLEMENTED. FIVE OBJECTIVES TO WHICH A DIVERSION PROJECT MUST ADDRESS ITSELF IN PLANNING A COMMUNITY DIVERSION PROGRAM ARE (1) RECOGNITION OF VULNERABILITY OF THE EFFORT, (2) IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL OPPOSITION AND SUPPORT, (3) DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY TO MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY SUPPORT, (4) EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF SUPPORT BUILDING TECHNIQUES, AND (5) NECESSITY OF ONGOING SUPPORT BUILDING EFFORTS. CONTINUOUS SUPPORT BUILDING AND EMPLOYING A NONTHREATENING STANCE WERE THE UNDERLYING REASONS FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE MEMPHIS PROJECT.