Focal Point: Social Institutions Area of Emphasis: Provision of programs by the law enforcement agencies in Commentary initiative by becoming counselors and recreation supervisors. They will increase the available personnel for those organizations while solidifying preventive efforts. See Focal Point Individual, Strategy, Cor. Rc-1; and Focal Point Social Institutions, Strategy, Cor. Rc-1. See also Report of the Task Force, supra at Standard 6.3 and Commentary. Police officers can also speak at schools, clubs, and athletic events regarding laws which affect juveniles. Officers can organize community events, team activities, clean-up campaigns, or ride-along programs. The combined effort by community and law enforcement agencies to furnish opportunities for more contact between youth and police on an unofficial basis is an important component of a juvenile delinquency prevention program. Police administrators should work with public and private agencies to ensure the availability of adequate services in various neighborhoods. This type of cooperation within the juvenile justice system can result in a more effective effort to prevent juvenile delinquency. See also Standards 2.251, 2.252, 2.253 and Commentaries. This strategy recognizes that police officers have a social service role as well as a law enforcement role in society. The traditional role of the police officer in our society and the profound effect that the officer can have on a juvenile as an authority figure makes contact between the officers and juvenile an effective prevention strategy. However, these contacts should not occur for law enforcement purposes only. This strategy suggests that law enforcement agencies work with other community agencies to provide programs which will guarantee more contact between youth and police on an unofficial basis. Positive interaction with juveniles is essential if police officers are to establish a good relationship with juveniles and broaden their role to include a preventive component. A police officer should be very familiar with social service Related Standards agencies, organizations and youth service bureaus in the community. Police officers can make a valuable contribution to these agencies and organizations since they are in a unique position to evaluate community needs and identify community problems. See National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals, Report of the Task Force on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Standard 6.2 and Commentary [hereinafter cited as Report of the Task Force]. 1.111-1.114 Organization of the Local Juvenile Service System 1.121-1.126 Organization of the State Juvenile Service System 1.21-1.29 1.41 1.421 2.251-2.253 Data Base Development and Collection Law Enforcement Personnel Police Juvenile Units Youth service bureaus and community agencies can offer juveniles a wide range of services including education, Related Strategies vocational training, physical and mental health treatment, and drug treatment. Police officers can provide leadership and Focal Point Individual: Focal Point: Social Institutions Type of Prevention: Corrective Area of Emphasis: Strategy: Cor. Rc-1 Expansion of Recreational Opportunities Provision of recreational opportunities for all youth incorporating necessary service mechanisms and outreach programs to involve youth who might not otherwise participate. Commentary Recreational opportunities are an essential part of a juvenile delinquency prevention program because they initiate and maintain contact with youth and provide outlets where rewards can be gained. This strategy recognizes the importance of recreational opportunities and suggests that all necessary service mechanisms and outreach programs be incorporated into the program to involve those who might not otherwise participate. Once the juvenile is involved in leisure activities, a trusting relationship may develop between him/her and the recreational staff. This provides the juvenile with some outlet for discussing feelings and problems. At the same time, free hours can be filled with constructive leisure activities. This strategy urges not only that recreational opportunities be generally available, but that steps be taken by the community to involve those who might otherwise not participate in them. Accord, National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals, Report of the Task Force on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Standard 3.34 and Commentary (1976) [hereinafter cited as Report of the Task Force]. The members of the community must actively encourage juveniles to participate in recreational activities by donating facilities, advertising, and volunteering time and services. Special activities and events, such as athletic competition, hikes, beach trips, and study programs should be provided. Special ethnic cultural awareness events can be used to draw juveniles to the program. Individual needs should always be considered in planning for recreational programs. For example, recreational programs which emphasize the development of individual skills such as fine arts, performing arts, crafts, cooking, photography, and carpentry should be encouraged. Report of the Task Force, supra at Standard 3.36 and Commentary. Developing artistic talents exposes children to new cultural opportunities and provides them with confidence and skills that assist in preventing delinquent acts. See Report of the Task Force, supra at Standard 3.37 and Commentary. Another way of reaching and involving juveniles who might not otherwise participate, is to offer them a role in the planning, implementation, evaluation, and solicitation of funds for recreational programs. This creates a stake in the outcome of the activity and helps to diminish feelings of inferiority. See generally National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals, Community Crime Prevention, 154 (1973). Since recreational staff may provide excellent role models for juveniles, the importance of selecting qualified staff cannot be over emphasized. The key to a successful recreational program lies in the ability of its staff to gain the trust of juveniles and to involve them in constructive and meaningful activities. The ability of the staff to organize recreational activities designed to attract juveniles is also crucial. The staff must be able to understand the problems of youth and to work with them in a sensitive manner. To accomplish these objectives, Report of the Task Force, supra at Standard 3.38 and Commentary suggests that recreational staff be trained in casework, community organization, leadership, and youth counseling. Staff personnel should be familar with community resources to enable them to make referrals when necessary. This requires developing and maintaining good relations with community groups. Report of the Task Force, supra at Standard 3.38 and Commentary also recommends that recreational leadership reflect the racial and ethnic make-up of 1.131-1.134 Organization and Coordination of the Federal the community to insure sensitivity and to provide the means Juvenile Service System Data Base Development and Collection Personnel Providing Direct Services to Juveniles Administrative Personnel Related Strategies Focal Point Individual: Cor. Rc-1 Expansion of Recreational Opportunities Cor. R-1 Counseling Focal Point Social Institutions: Cor. J-1 Police-Youth Relations Cor. Ed-4 Utilization of School Facilities Focal Point: Social Institutions Corrective Area of Emphasis: Strategy: Cor. Ho-1 Provision of Adequate Shelter Provision by all levels of government of adequate housing for low income families through the expansion of new housing units and the renovation of existing housing. Commentary This preventive strategy relates to housing conditions which may negatively influence a juvenile and contribute to delinquent behavior and neglect of children. Providing adequate shelter for all citizens must become a societal goal. This strategy takes a corrective approach to formulating and implementing plans to attain this objective. Providing adequate shelter should be part of any juvenile delinquency prevention plan for two reasons. First, research studies have shown that there is a relationship between delinquency and deteriorated housing. Second, there are strong correlations between rates of delinquency and housing density. National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals, Report of the Task Force on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Standard 3.39 (1976) [hereinafter cited as Report of the Task Force]. There are many ways in which substandard, over-crowded housing can affect a juvenile and contribute to the conditions upon which juvenile delinquency feeds. Poorly maintained buildings are places where crime is easier to commit and harder to detect. Brightly lit open spaces do not encourage criminal activity in the way that dark, shadowy hallways do. Empty apartments pose similar problems since they provide places to hide. The National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals discussed the lack of community ties in relation to inadequate housing. It stated that "inadequate housing may actually destroy community life and encourage many forms of deviant behavior." Report of the Task Force, supra at Standard 3.39 and Commentary. The lack of privacy in substandard housing can also negatively affect a juvenile. The juvenile may turn to the streets more often if his/her home is overcrowded or unpleasant. Crowded conditions at home can result in family tension and physical outbursts. Once family problems exist, there is a greater risk that the juveniles will misbehave in order to vent hostility and hurt feelings. Another result of poor housing is poor health. Poor housing is just plain dangerous. Loose fixtures, broken stairs, debris, poor plumbing, fire hazards, and peeling paint pose real health dangers. Commentary to other prevention strategies indicate the relationship between health problems and juvenile delinquency. See Focal Point Individual, Strategies, Cor. H-1, Cor. H-2, Cor. H-3, and Commentaries. Finally, on a psychological level, there is a negative impact on the sensitive juvenile who has to live in poor housing. A positive self-image is essential for a juvenile to develop properly and to stay out of trouble. Poor housing does not assist in this development. The strategy calls for participation by all levels of government to provide for housing. The National Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals also called for a coordinated effort by all housing and urban development agencies. See Report of the Task Force, supra at Standard 3.39. Local authorities should be responsible for identifying housing needs and then addressing them in their juvenile delinquency prevention programs. See also Standards 1.112, 1.122, and 1.124; Report of the Task Force, supra at Standards 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, and 2.9. Adequate housing can be provided in two ways. New housing units can be built and/or existing buildings can be renovated. This strategy does not indicate a preference. Compare Report of the Task Force, supra at Standard 3.39. In building new housing, authorities should consider whether shopping, recreation, and transportation opportunities are |