Juvenile delinquency (1955)

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY 57 and organizations in our community to evaluate existing facilities and pro- grams and to study tlie local aspects of delinquency and delinquency preven- tion. Such an old-fashioned New England town meeting as I am suggesting, to be successful, must bring together in free gathering all groups and individuals in the community who have direct or indirect interest in children, or have fa- cilities or programs to assist them. The tradition of citizens gathering togetlier to express their individual ideas about matters of common concern is as old as the history of our country, and continues as a sturdy manifestation of our inherited passion for free speech and political action. I am sure the citizens of your ■community will welcome your leadership in naming a group to plan a town meeting for your city. Many communities already have mayors' committees on juvenile delinquency which could plan the program. Where these do not now exist, they might well be formed, or an established organization such as the communi-ty council or the welfare council, et cetera, mig-ht serve as a planning committee for your town meeting. Anticipating that you will join this program I have directed the field officers of the youth authority to give every assistance in planning these meetings. Their services and specially prepared technical material may be obtained by writing to Mr. Heman G. Stark, director of the youth authority, directly in Sacramento. I plan to call a statewide council in April of 1956 to study the reports of these town meetings and to develop a master plan for the improvement of these services in California. In preparation for this conference I am asking the Governor's advisory com- mittee on children and youth, and interested State departments, to prepare a statewide balance sheet on youth services so that the conferences may have this material available. Upon completion of your meeting I would appreciate re- ceiving a copy of your findings and recommendations. Cordially, Goodwin J. Knight, Governor. Now, if the committee please, to date more than 200 communities have already indicated that they would hold such town meetings. The proo-ram is taking hold in a wonderful way. This is a grassroots prograni^to combat juvenile delinquency at the local level, where we believe it can best be handled. Under the governor's direction the youth authority is getting out two publications. One is entitled "Planning Handbook for Town Meeting." And I would like to submit for the purpose of the record a copy of it. Chairman Kefattv^er. It is a very useful exhibit and wdl be made a part of our record. (The document referred to was marked "Exhibit No. 5," and reads as follows:) Exhibit No. 5 Planning Handbook for Town Meetings on Delinquency and Delinquency Prevention the town meeting tradition Many changes are taking place in community life today. People are moving about more freely than ever before. Community ties are fewer and roots are more shallow. Life generally is more complex. Families are finding it more difficult to remain strong and united. As our cities steadily increase in size, their problems rapidly multiply. Citizens tend to leave the development of community life to chance, or to shift the total responsibility to government. Throughout California thinking people are seeking ways and means of strength- ening local community life through increased citizen knowledge and participation. Everywhere there is a growing eagerness to learn from one another. The tradi- tion of free and open discussion is as old as the history of our country. It is perhaps for this reason that the New England Town Meeting has persisted in only slightly altered form for nearly two centuries.