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PREVENTION AND DIVERSION

NCJ Number
46467
Author(s)
W D WILSON
Date Published
1977
Length
20 pages
Annotation
A PROJECT INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF THE HOPEWELL, VA., POLICE TO DEAL WITH PREDELINQUENT YOUTHS AND TO DIVERT SUCH YOUTHS FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE HOPEWELL PROJECT INVOLVES THE SERVICES OF A JUVENILE OFFICER, ONE OF 50 POLICE OFFICERS SERVING A POPULATION OF 25,000. THE JUVENILE OFFICER'S DUTIES ENCOMPASS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AS WELL AS DELINQUENCY-RELATED MATTERS. THE OFFICER INVESTIGATES COMPLAINTS, RESOLVING THEM HIMSELF WHEN POSSIBLE BY COUNSELING THE CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS AND BY MEDIATING WITH INJURED PARTIES. THE OFFICER ALSO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REFERRALS, FOLLOWUPS, AND RECORDS ON ALL JUVENILE COMPLAINTS. AMONG EVALUATION FINDINGS ARE THAT, BY CASTING THE JUVENILE OFFICER'S ROLE IN THE CONTEXT OF SPECIFIC POLICE DUTIES AND POWERS, THE HOPEWELL PROJECT HAS OVEREXTENDED ITSELF; I.E., ONE OFFICER CANNOT INVESTIGATE ALL JUVENILE-RELATED COMPLAINTS AND RECORD THEIR DISPOSITIONS WITHOUT DEVELOPING A CONSIDERABLE BACKLOG OF CASES. THE PROJECT IS RATED 'AVERAGE' ON ACHIEVEMENT OF PROGRAM GOALS AND 'GOOD' ON PROJECT DIRECTION AND COORDINATION AND ON ACHIEVEMENT OF STATE PLAN AND AGENCY GOALS. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED. (LKM)