Working Group on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

This Working Group has concluded its planning task and developed a plan to reduce:

1. The number of youths entering the juvenile justice system for a first offense, and
2. Recidivism among violent, chronic and serious juvenile offenders to prevent them from committing Ballot Measure 11 crimes.
   

The Plan, finalized in 1998, calls for:
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Plan
Appendix to Plan

• Promoting delinquency prevention;
• Intervening immediately and effectively when delinquent behavior occurs;
• Identifying and controlling a small group of serious, violent and chronic juvenile offenders.

General Strategies:

• Prevent youth from becoming delinquent by focusing prevention programs on at-risk youth.
• Improve the juvenile justice system response through graduated sanctions and a continuum of treatment alternatives.

Target Populations:

• Juveniles at risk of involvement in delinquency activity, including youth who exhibit known risk factors for future delinquency and drug and alcohol abuse. Such youths include those who have had contact with the juvenile justice system as non-offenders (i.e., neglected, abused and dependent children), status offenders (i.e., runaways, truants, alcohol offenders and incorrigibles), and minor delinquent offenders;
  
• Youth, who have committed delinquent (i.e., criminal) acts, including juvenile offenders who evidence a high likelihood of becoming, or who already are, serious, violent or chronic offenders.

General Principles:

• Strengthen the family and the parenting function;
• Promote safe and healthy communities;
• Support core social institutions, such as schools;
• Promote delinquency prevention through early intervention;
• Begin all planning efforts from a strength-focused, wellness perspective.