JUVENILE OFFENDER DRUG INTERVENTION PROJECT (J.O.D.I) Kellee Walters Senior Constable, Northam Alcohol and Drug Advisory Unit Northam, WA

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1 JUVENILE OFFENDER DRUG INTERVENTION PROJECT (J.O.D.I) Kellee Walters Senior Constable, Northam Alcohol and Drug Advisory Unit Northam, WA Paper presented at the Conference Reducing Criminality: Partnerships and Best Practice convened by the Australian Institute of Criminology, in association with the WA Ministry of Justice, Department of Local Government, Western Australian Police Service and Safer WA and held in Perth 31 July and 1 August 2000

2 INTRODUCTION What is J.O.D.I? J.O.D.I is a parent information package containing drug and referral information that will enable police officers to supply a user friendly resource package which offers the first steps towards drug reform for the young person while at the same time offering avenues of support and information for the parents. The concept for this program emerged in 1996 when a junior police constable (Paul World) was stationed in an inquiry team in the Perth area. While interviewing and processing juvenile offenders he noticed that a large number of the parents were deeply committed to the welfare and plight of their children who were offending because of the use of drugs or to obtain drugs. He was continually placed in a position whereby parents were asking questions about different types of drugs and what agencies there were that could help them. By contacting the many agencies that produce information about drugs and obtaining copies of drug counselling organisations details he simply supplied these documents to the parents. Constable World continued to use this simple method whilst in Perth and later when he was transferred to the country wheat belt town of Merredin. In 1998 Constable World delivered an information session to Officers in Charge of the Northam Police District. He outlined the method he had adopted when coming into contact with juveniles who had offended due to their drug use and the parents of these young people. The police officers at this presentation identified: The simplicity of this approach. That it would be a standard response, although police are generally well trained in investigation of offenders they are restricted in dealing with requests for information about specific drugs. That often when parents are confronted with the realisation that their children are involved with crime and drugs the parents and the police officer is not equipped to handle the situation. That although much of the required information is available it does not necessarily get to the people that need it when they need it. That the Northam Alcohol and Drug Advisory Unit should compile a project and develop a process to implement a trial of J.O.D.I. The twelve month trial of the J.O.D.I project has developed as a result of co-operation between a number of agencies, including the Northam Police District, State Alcohol and Drug Advisory Unit (WAPS), Police Alcohol & Drugs Projects Co-Ordination Committee (P.D.A.P.C.C), Western Australia Drug Abuse Strategy Office (W.A.D.A.S.O), Local Drug Action Groups (Merredin and Northam), Coastal and Wheat belt public Health Unit, Wheat Belt Community Drug Service Team, Health Promotions Services - Health Department of Western Australia. 2

3 Summary of J.O.D.I Package Northam Alcohol and Drug compiled a non-threatening package of current publications and referral agency contacts which are supplied to parents in times of crises, equipping them with the initial tools and alternatives to cope with the given situation. (Utilising the parents of the Local Drug Action Groups tested mock-up packages and obtained feedback prior to producing current trial packages). Implemented a professional standardised procedure for officers in the police service to initiate at the point of first contact with parents and juvenile offenders in drug related or suspected drug related matters. Produced step by step information pamphlets for police officers as an easy reckoner. Conducted training of officers on when and how to issue a J.O.D.I package. Developed officers critique forms, parent contact returns and follow-up surveys. Arranged for independent evaluation. In April 1999 the 12 month trial of J.O.D.I commenced. The J.O.D.I package has allowed the Police Service to act as a conduit of information for all other agencies and services that are equipped to deal with drug related issues. Aims of the Project The aims of the J.O.D.I Project are to: Reshape police response to youth drug related issues by providing officers with a simple and effective procedure that enables them to supply youth and parents a user friendly resource package offering the first steps towards drug reform for the juvenile and most importantly the initial education of the parent. Educate police by making them familiar with the format and process so they will utilise a set procedure regularly in all instances. Redefine the police role by enhancing and empowering adults to take responsibility for the action and drug education of the youth in their care. Effectively use current publications to educate community members and have this resource ready made for police officers so that service delivery will be professional, accurate and expedient. Conduct an independent evaluation and publish results and recommendations. 3

4 Eligibility Four steps to issuing a J.O.D.I package: It is irrelevant if the young person is charged or dealt with by other means, if there is only a suspicion of drug use or if the person has been issued with a package previously. 1. When is a J.O.D.I package administered? A J.O.D.I package is to be administered When a young person is identified as using alcohol or other drugs. When a young person commits an offence to support the use of alcohol or other drugs. 2. J.OD.I Delivery Always, administer the package in the presence of both the young person and his/her parent/guardian. Remove the information from the J.O.D.I package relating the type of drug or suspected drug. Work through the information with the parent/guardian, if the young person becomes curious, allow then to be part of the information exchange. 3. The J.O.D.I package When you have gone over the relevant information the entire J.O.D.I package is to be given to the parent/guardian. Explain that they can access the Community Drug Service Team for further assistance point out the telephone number on the package. Clarify to recipients that all information will remain confidential, but they may be contacted at a later date by police evaluating the usefulness of the J.O.D.I package. 4. Reordering and commenting on the J.O.D.I package When a J.O.D.I package is given to a parent/guardian a contact return is to be completed and forwarded to Northam Alcohol and Drug Advisory Unit. This will enable your stock to be replenished and for relevant details to be collated at this office for evaluation and follow-up. A speedy and simple critique is also to be completed for every J.O.D.I package delivered, this will enable the project to be streamlined or improved. Statistics and feedback Without wishing to pre-empt any of the findings of the final evaluation in the twelve month trial period 64 packages were issued, some of the preliminary findings prior to the completion of the official evaluation are: Gender Offender/ person of concern Number Males 36 Females 11 Re-issued repeat offence 1 Pro-active packages to concerned parent/youth 11 4

5 Age Breakdown Age of offender/person of concern Number Issued Unknown 1 Nature of offence Primary Secondary Was the offence primary or secondary Percentage 68% (approx) 32% (approx) Types of drugs used by recipients of the J.O.D.I package Drug Type Percentage Alcohol 10% Cannabis 84% Amphetamine 6% Heroin 4% Valium 4% Poly drug use 10% The percentages in the above table do not represent 100% as some have been calculated in 2 or more categories and are approximates only to show any trends. In only 4 % of the police contact was the young person actually arrested, in all other instances they were dealt with in an alternate manner to arrest. Police Officers critique forms During the trial period 40 officers completed the critique forms. Very early it was identified that we had not included any information on substance/ solvent abuse and this was ratified by addendum information being supplied to police stations for them to include if required. Is the pack easy to use? Response Percentage Response Strongly Agree 42.5 % Agree 50% Indifferent 2.5% 5

6 Application of J.O.D.I package Difficulty of Application Percentage Response Hard to Apply 7.32% Easy to Apply 92.68% The average time that it took police officers to apply the J.O.D.I package was 6.55 minutes. Some of the positive responses from police officers after delivering a J.O.D.I package: Excellent package for parents/children. Easily applied, received positive results. Parents were very happy to receive material and appreciated police assistance. Parents were glad to receive the information and so was the offender. Very helpful as parent was in difficult situation and wanted information about drug use. During presentation child admitted using cannabis and dextroamphetamine to get back at parents. Pack was used as a tool for parents and child to have relevant information about drugs. Positive outcome child not going to use drugs and has moved home. Some of the negative responses: Parent indifferent, child indifferent. Parent indifferent towards package but, thought it may assist stoping son from using drugs. Mother emotional at the time of handing over the package unable to asses if of use. - Mother contacted police at a later time and advised that she had read contents and was impressed." Observations Every parent given a package respected the officer more for helping and commented that everybody should get the package. Most officers were very receptive to the training as they saw the package as a way to make talking to parents easier. Only those officers who have had received training in how to delivery a J.O.D.I package from the designated Alcohol and Drug staff had returned packages. Where an officer who had received training had shown new officers how to delivery the J.O.D.I package a nil return had been achieved. Immediately after the training or follow-up training there is a sudden increase in the amount of packages returned and the variety for which they are given. Officers have used it as a tool to give to worried parents without the young person ever actually having come into contact with police. After training the quantity of returns lessons within 8 weeks. There would be benefit in having follow-up training sessions on drug types and the instances were the application of the J.O.D.I package could be reinforced. Training of the smaller groups of officers appeared to have a greater impact than the larger groups. Having the parent and young person sitting down together when the officer presented the drug information was possibly one of the most successful aspects of this package as it often opened the lines of communication up between parent and child. 6

7 Conclusion The current manner in which the J.O.D.I package has been compiled could be considered to be an expensive way in which to present this information to parents. An alternative form would need to be explored however, I consider one of the successful aspects of this project has been that it cannot be easily just handed to the parent and requires the officer to sit down and explain the package to both the parent and young person. It also became apparent that there is a need for someone, an individual person to take ownership of the project and constantly be engaged in assisting, reminding and sending updated information to officers. I consider that the J.O.D.I project has been a success in the Northam District because at the time of writing this paper of the 11 young people who had previous convictions prior to receiving a J.O.D.I package only 5 have re-offended. With regards to the remaining youths, when they received the J.O.D.I package was the first time they had come to police attention. Of this group only 1 has come to police attention again. Upon evaluation, it is anticipated that funding will be sought to extend the program on a statewide basis or at least to extend the trial to a larger sample group. At the time of writing this paper, there is insufficient data available to indicate whether it would be a success or otherwise on a larger scale. 7