Children, Families, Community Resources

In the past, law enforcement officers had a tough time evaluating possible cases of elder abuse. Stereotypes about older people abounded. They fall a lot and bruise easily, so how can anyone tell if they have been harmed? They have memory problems and would be unable to testify in court. NIJ forensic studies are now helping law enforcement teams to win convictions of criminals who abuse elders. The latest issue of the NIJ Journal includes a package of stories about detecting and prosecuting elder abuse. You can download the Journal from the National Institute of Justice at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/229882.pdf

The Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention has just published Girls Study Group series. There are a few interesting publications on risk factors for delinquency among girls. Check the publications out at: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/publications/PubResults.asp?sei=91

The National Institute of Justice has made available a great five-part interview by Dr. Lawrence Sherman, following his presentation "Less Prison, More Police, Less Crime: How Criminology Can Save the States from Bankruptcy" given as part of NIJ's Research for the Real World Seminar Series. You can view the entire interview or one of five segments at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/multimedia/video-sherman.htm.

A disturbing new report from the National Sheriffs' Association and Treatment Advocacy Center has found that a seriously mentally ill person in America is 3xs more likely to be incarcerated than hospitalized. You can download "More Mentally Ill Persons are in Jails or Prisons than Hospitals" from NSA at: http://www.sheriffs.org/about/SurveyofStates.asp.

The American Probation and Parole Association, in conjunction with the Century Council, have just released the Hardcore Drunk Driving Community Corrections Guide. This new resource is designed to assist probation and parole professionals in recognizing the complexities of hardcore drunk driving cases and identifying strategies to effectively supervise these offenders throughout the various stages of the justice process. It also promotes the implementation of a multi-disciplinary team approach to the community supervision of the hardcore drunk driving offender. You can download this excellent resource (and make sure to share it with your probation and parole colleagues!) at http://www.centurycouncil.org/files/material/files/HCDD-Community-Supervision-Guide.pdf.

It's prom season, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy has myriad resources to help parents talk with their kids about alcohol and other drug use and abuse. These are great prevention resources for parents; check them out at http://ofsubstance.gov/blogs/pushing_back/archive/2010/05/05/50963.aspx.

Sandra C. Moroso, MA
Senior Project Coordinator
New Jersey Victim Assistance Academy
Institute for Families
School of Social Work
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
100 Joyce Kilmer Ave
Building 4161
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8045
Office: 732-445-3178 x126
Fax: 732-445-0580
socialwork.rutgers.edu/iff