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From Theory to Practice: Delinquency Prevention, Alternatives to the Juvenile Justice System, and Improving the Juvenile Justice System

NCJ Number
161349
Date Published
Unknown
Length
233 pages
Annotation
This monograph presents three documents that describe the overall perspectives and goals of the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), along with suggestions on how these goals can be implemented and appropriate uses of the OJJDP's technical assistance.
Abstract
Each of the three documents focuses on one of OJJDP's three goals: delinquency prevention, the development of community alternatives to the traditional justice system, and improvement in the juvenile justice system. The first document provides a broad perspective on delinquency prevention as it has evolved in the United States. Topics addressed are the history of prevention practice in the United States, the problem of delinquency prevention in perspective, the theoretical basis for an organizational-change approach in delinquency prevention, and initiatives in technical assistance for delinquency prevention. The document also contains a bibliography and appended illustrative examples of institution-based interventions that conform to the organizational-change approach. The second document focuses on the alternatives to incarceration in adjudicating instances of juvenile delinquency. It provides historical background for community-based alternatives to the juvenile justice system and presents a theoretical framework for community-based alternatives. Also included are descriptions and critiques of community-based alternatives and strategies to be supported by OJJDP technical assistance. The third document addresses ways to improve the juvenile justice system. Chapters consider the historical development of the juvenile justice system, the framework for the administration of juvenile justice, and a technical assistance strategy to improve the administration of juvenile justice. A bibliography accompanies each of the three documents.