NCJ Number
11349
Date Published
1972
Length
65 pages
Annotation
PROJECT HANDLING JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS WHICH SEEKS TO DIVERT THESE YOUTHS FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH THE USE OF SHORT TERM FAMILY CRISIS THERAPY.
Abstract
THE SACRAMENTO 601 DIVERSION PROJECT IS AN EXPERIMENT DESIGNED TO TEST WHETHER JUVENILES CHARGED WITH THIS KIND OF OFFENSE-- THE 601 OR PRE-DELINQUENT OFFENSE-- CAN BE BETTER HANDLED THROUGH SHORT TERM FAMILY CRISIS THERAPY ADMINISTERED AT INTAKE BY SPECIALLY TRAINED PROBATION OFFICERS THAN THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL PROCEDURES OF THE JUVENILE COURT. THE PROJECT HANDLES CASES ON FOUR DAYS OF THE WEEK WITH THE REGULAR INTAKE UNIT HANDLING THE OTHER THREE DAYS. DURING ITS FIRST NINE MONTHS THE PROJECT HANDLED 803 REFERRALS INVOLVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSION BUT FILED ONLY 18 PETITIONS FOR COURT ACTION. AVAILABLE DATA CONCERNING REPEAT OFFENSES INDICATES THAT THE PROJECT GROUP IS DOING BETTER THAN EITHER THE PRE-PROJECT SAMPLE OR THE CONTROL GROUP (THOSE JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS PROCESSED BY THE JUVENILE COURT INTAKE UNIT). DATA INDICATE THAT THE PROJECT WAS ALSO SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF YOUTHS SENT TO DETENTION FACILITIES UPON INITIAL REFERRAL. BASED ON THE PROJECT'S SUCCESS IN DIVERTING CASES OUT OF JUVENILE COURT, IN REDUCING JUVENILE HALL DETENTION AND RECIDIVISM, AVAILABLE COST INFORMATION INDICATES THAT DIVERSION IS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE MORE TRADITIONAL PROCEDURES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)