The perception that violence is on the rise is supported by data showing a sharp increase in violent crime among juveniles since the mid-1980's. Perhaps the most disturbing trend is the increase in murders committed by juvenile. This trend is being observed, not only in Florida, but across the country. Even though arrests for murder overall have declined from 1989 to 1994, juvenile arrests for murder increased by 33%. While total arrests for murder in Florida increased more than 27% over the last 20 years and adult arrests went up by more than 11%, juvenile arrests for this offense rose 35.8% (Crime in Florida, FDLE 1995).

Between 1985 and 1992, the rate of homicide by young people, the number of homicides committed with guns, and the arrest rate of non-white juveniles for drug offenses have all more than doubled (OJP 6/96). More than half of all cases adjudicated for a delinquency offense received probation as the most severe disposition (OJJDP 3/96).

Consequently, probation officers caseloads have grown proportionately. Juvenile probation officers face a lack of resources, insufficient staff, and too many cases. As a result, their greatest sources of frustration are the inability to impact the lives of the youth, the attitudes of probationers and their families, and the difficulties in identifying successes.

To effectively manage serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders, thereby reducing the recidivism rate and impacting juvenile crime overall.

This program creates a partnership between Juvenile Probation and the West Palm Beach Police Department, that would, by design, strengthen probation as a tool for preventing and suppressing youth violence. The program would bring new credibility to probation and the enforcement of its term.

Identify a liaison with each department to coordinate the methods, scheduling, and data collection.

Survey police officers to identify individuals interested in dedicating themselves to ‘The Police - Probation Partnership', in an overtime capacity, for a one year period, stressing the programs focus.

From those interested, approximately 12 would be chosen to form a pool for availability on any given day of the week to partner with a Juvenile Probation Officer.

Liaisons would meet initially, to coordinate the program, examine the caseload, and develop a schedule accordingly.

A meeting between those Police Officers chosen and the Probation Officers would be conducted to define the partnership and ensure that all involved understand each others role.

On a given day, overtime West Palm Beach police officers would partner with juvenile probation officers, both in a plain clothes capacity, in an unmarked car.

The team, utilizing the assigned caseload, would make their visits after an offender's curfew to determine if the probationer is at home. If he or she is present, the team members reinforce to the youth's parents that probation terms must be strictly observed. They would also inquire as to the probationers behavior both in the home and in the community.

Throughout the evening, the team would stop at various parks and street corners where youths are congregated to see if any of the probationers are present. This demonstrates to all youths that the probation and police officers are working together and are interested in their activities and whereabouts.

Probationers will come to realize, as the program progresses that police officers will be arresting youths for probation violations - a previously unheard of charge. When an arrest is made, the juvenile would be transported to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for processing and subsequent lodging at the Juvenile Detention Center until first appearance the following day.

Police officers will be responsible for maintaining the ‘Police - Probation Contact Log' during each shift. This log was created to document the number of juvenile contacts, parental contacts, arrests, juveniles counseled, locations, and Field Interrogation Cards. Police Officers would additionally be responsible for completing any arrest paperwork during the course of the shift.

Probation officers would complete the appropriate paperwork necessary to document either a violation or compliance.

The original ‘Police - Probation Contact Log' and a copy of any arrest paperwork will be submitted to the police liaison at the end of each shift.

Liaisons will meet monthly to evaluate all elements of the program including the methods employed and also to develop any necessary revisions; to measure the effectiveness of the personnel involved; and to examine the data to ensure that the project focus is being maintained.

Liaisons will meet every six months to complete an impact study on the probationers recidivism rate; and on a community wide level to examine the rate of juvenile crime as it relates prior to and subsequent to the programs' implementation.