Juvenile delinquency (1955)

58 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY WHY TALK IT OVER Juvenile delinquency is a serious and continuing aspect of community life. Gov. Goodwin J. Knight has reported that we have "held the line" in California in 1954 while the Nation was reporting increases in delinquency up to 15 percent. We can be proud of our record in controlling delinquency last year, but we must face the fact that the problem is still large and serious. We must further recognize that the prevention and control of juvenile delinquency, to be effective, must be pursued primarily in the community. Only by constant com- munity vigilance will we be able to keep delinquency within bounds. Only by concerted community action can we make further progress through a more effective local attack on the problem. PURPOSE OF THE TOWN MEETING The town meeting's main function should be to clarify viewpoints on prob- lems relating to delinquency prevention and control; to present and study new ideas ; to encourage citizen thinking and discussion ; and to stimulate community planning and action to combat delinquency. Free discussion by the group should be the focus of the meeting, rather than lectures in which the audience participates passively. The results of your town meeting will also make a valuable contribution to delinquency prevention and control throughout the State. Governor Knight has asked that the findings and recommendations of each town meeting be submitted to him as early as possible, in preparation for a statewide conference he will call in April 1956, at Sacramento. The reports and recommendations of the town meetings will serve as a framework for this Governor's Conference, will provide the springboard for discussions at that meeting, and will be used to develop a master plan for improvement of services to youth in California. PLANNING THE TOWN MEETING The following outline of duties and responsibilities for town meeting leaders is not intended as a complete check list but only as a general guide. Prior to any assignment of responsibilities, the board of supervisors and the mayor or city council should direct heads of county or city departments related to youth services to give full cooperation to town meeting planning committees. Mayor or chairman of hoard of supervisors Informally discusses idea of town meeting with others likely to be interested. Clarifies understanding why town meeting is to be held—its value, purpose, and objective. Selects tentative date after conferring with others to avoid any conflicts. Looks for existing sponsoring group, such as a mayor's committee or county- wide committee, coordinating council, or welfare council, to plan and carry out town meeting. If no such group exists, appoints a broadly representative planning committee. Appoints planning committee chairman. Looks for possibility of an existing community agency to furnish stafE service to the planning committee and the town meeting itself. Obtains financing for necessary expenses: mailing, printing or mimeographing announcements, programs, and final reports. This may be done by a small appropriation of public funds or by a 50-cent meeting registration fee. Planning committee chairman Accepts overall responsibility of town meeting leadership, planning, and man- agement in behalf of mayor or chairman of board of supervisors. Confers with mayor or chairman of board of supervisors and other interested people in the community for ideas and suggestions regarding the town meeting. Convenes the committee and assists mayor or chairman of board of supervisors in familiarizing the committee with the town meeting idea, the focus, preliminary objectives, and purpose of the meeting, and tentative plans developed to date. Keeps the mayor or chairman of board of supervisors advised of developments- and gets his approval on matters where needed or advisable. Coordinates or obtains full committee approval of the work of subcommittees.. Planning committee Prepares a statement on the purposes and objectives of the meeting. Reaches agreement on date and location of the meeting.