PREVENTING DELINQUENCY THROUGH DIVERSION BY SHORT TERM FAMILY COUNSELING - CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT CENTRAL 601 DIVERSION PROJECT - YEARLY REPORT, JULY 1972 - JUNE 30, 1973

• NCJ Number: 18499
• Author(s): R E TROYER
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 39 pages
• Grant Number(s): 0313
• Sponsoring Agency: California Council on Criminal Justice
• Corporate Author: Contra Costa Cty Probation Dept
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

HISTORY, ORGANIZATION, TRAINING, OPERATING PROCEDURES, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROBATION INTERVENTION PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES REMEDIAL FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICES IN CASES OF TRUANCY, INCORRIGIBILITY, AND RUNAWAYS.

Abstract

THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO DIVERT YOUTH MEETING PRESCRIBED CRITERIA AWAY FROM THE REGULAR PROBATION AND TO THUS REDUCE REFERRALS TO JUVENILE COURT, REDUCE THE USE OF DETENTION, AND HOPEFULLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF REPEATED OFFENSES. THE PROJECT RELYS ON STAFF WORKERS WHO ARE AVAILABLE ON SHORT NOTICE TO CONDUCT INITIAL COUNSELING SESSIONS AS WELL AS FOLLOW-UP SESSIONS TO HELP PARENTS IN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS WHICH ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTING THEIR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR. THE PROJECT HAS SUCCEEDED IN REDUCING THE PERCENTAGE OF COURT PETITIONS FILED BY OVER 55 PERCENT AND THE NUMBER OF SUBSEQUENT POLICE CONTACTS BY EIGHT TO NINE PER CENT OVER A PREPROJECT CONTROL GROUP. OPERATING PROCEDURES FOUND TO BE BIG CONTRIBUTORS TO SUCCESS ARE THE STAFF'S 10 HOUR-FOUR DAY WORK WEEK INCLUDING EVENING HOURS, AND THE MAXIMUM 90 DAY ELIGIBILITY PERIOD FOR FAMILIES. THE VAST MAJORITY OF PARENTS, WHO MUST VOLUNTEER TO RECEIVE THE SERVICE INITIALLY, HAVE SHOWN GENUINE INTEREST IN THEIR CHILDREN AND IN THE PROJECT.