NCJ Number
54687
Date Published
1974
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A MODEL IS PRESENTED FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENCY MANAGEMENT BY JUVENILE JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEKS TO ALLEVIATE OR MINIMIZE DEFICITS IN THE TRADITIONAL INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT MODEL.
Abstract
CRITICISMS OF THE INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT OR MEDICAL MODEL HAVE HEIGHTENED, ONE BEING THAT POLITICAL CONTROL IS CONFUSED WITH PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION. INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN BASICALLY TWO WAYS: (1) DELINQUENT YOUTH ARE TREATED INDIVIDUALLY BY COMMITMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME TO SECURE INSTITUTIONS THAT PROVIDE A LIFE REGULATED AROUND ADULT SUPERVISION, WORK, EDUCATION, DISCIPLINE, RELIGION, AND RECREATION; AND (2) PROBATION, THE MOST WIDELY USED FORM OF INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT. AS A SERVICE MODEL, INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT IS THE PRODUCT OF A UNION BETWEEN SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY AND CLINICAL CASE ANALYSIS. THE PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL, HOWEVER, IS THAT ITS IMPLEMENTATION BY JUVENILE JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS HAS LARGELY REMAINED UNAFFECTED BY CHANGES IN CONTEMPORARY, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL SCIENCE THOUGHT. THE PROPOSED MODEL IS DESIGNED TO HANDLE DELINQUENCY-RELATED ISSUES MORE ADEQUATELY, WITH THE PARENS PATRIAE DOCTRINE SERVING AS THE CRITERION FOR ADEQUACY. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE PROPOSED MODEL IS NOT ON DELINQUENT YOUTH, BUT ON THE ECOLOGICAL COMPLEX OF DELINQUENCY THAT ENCOMPASSES ADULTS, YOUTH, AND SOCIAL INTERESTS MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY ALLEGED DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. UNDER THE PARENS PATRIAE DOCTRINE OF THE MODEL, THE STATE WILL SERVE PARENTAL INTERESTS BUT WILL NOT ASSUME PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR YOUTH INVOLVED IN DELINQUENCY SITUATIONS. COMPONENTS OF THE MODEL ARE PROTECTION, EDUCATION, LITIGATION, AND LEGISLATION. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)