Abstract
In 1988, the Journal of Criminal Justice published the results of David Twain's 1983–1984 process evaluation of Newark, NJ, Juvenile Conference Committees (JCCs)a volunteer-led, diversionary court program for youth misdemeanor offenders. The authors describe conspicuous inadequacies in the JCC process, in particular the lack of follow-up with juveniles about future recidivist behavior. This article discusses (1) the lack of response by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts to Twain's results, (2) the findings of a 1978 OJJDP report on the effectiveness of JCCs and other volunteer-run juvenile court programs, and (3) an unpublished two-year study of JCC youth recidivism in one New Jersey County. To date, there has never been a published systematic, statewide assessment of conference committees' impact on youth attitudes, behaviors, and norms. This essay proposes ways to measure JCC effectiveness in changing young people's illegal behavior.
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