NCJ Number
59345
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 153-170
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
MAIN FEATURES OF APPROVED SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF AIMS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, AS COMPARED AND CONTRASTED WITH PRESENT DAY COMMUNITY HOMES, ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
FOR DECADES APPROVED SCHOOLS HAD BEEN ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ENGLAND. IN 1973, THESE SCHOOLS GAVE WAY TO COMMUNITY HOMES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT, 1969. THE ACT ENVISAGED COMMITTAL TO A COMMUNITY HOME AS ONE OF A WIDE VARIETY OF FLEXIBLE MEASURES AVAILABLE TO A LOCAL AUTHORITY INTO WHOSE CARE A CHILD HAD BEEN COMMITTED. IMPLICIT IN THE SCOPE, AIMS, AND METHODS OF THE APPROVED SCHOOLS IS THE NOTION THAT DELINQUENCY CAN IN SOME WAY BE 'CURED' WITHIN AN ENVIRONMENT DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN WHICH IT ORIGINATED. THE SCHOOLS RELIED ON A 'DISEASE' MODEL OF DELINQUENCY AND A 'MEDICAL' MODEL OF INTERVENTION. THE HOSPITAL MODEL OF RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT COULD BE USED TO EXPLAIN, IN PART, THE STEADILY FALLING SUCCESS RATES OF THE APPROVED SCHOOLS FROM 1933 TO 1967. IN ADDITION, THE PUNITIVE ELEMENT AND SENSITIVITY TO PUBLIC OPINION ALWAYS FACTORED LARGELY IN APPROVED SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY. THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE APPROVED SCHOOLS WAS ALWAYS VERY 'BUREAUCRATIC'; EFFECTIVENESS WITH REGARD TO CUSTODIAL FUNCTIONS IS A DOCUMENTED FAILURE. THE TERM COMMUNITY HOME AS USED IN THE 1969 ACT COVERS SEVERAL TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS SERVING A VARIETY OF PURPOSES, INCLUDING THOSE PREVIOUSLY SERVED BY RECEPTION HOMES, CHILDREN'S HOMES, HOSTELS, NURSERIES, APPROVED SCHOOLS, AND REMAND HOMES. THE IDEA BEHIND THE ACT WAS THAT THE EXPERTS WHO WOULD DETERMINE THE BEST FACILITY FOR THE CHILD WOULD BE THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND SOCIAL WORKERS, RATHER THAN THE COURTS. THE AIM OF THE COMMUNITY HOME IS TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE CHILD'S ENTIRE NEEDS MAY BE PROVIDED FOR WITHIN AN APPROPRIATE TREATMENT PROGRAM. SATISFYING PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTS ARE EMPHASIZED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ACT DOES NOTHING TO ERADICATE THE PUNITIVE NOTIONS FOUND IN APPROVED SCHOOLS. ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS STILL FACING COMMUNITY HOMES IS PRECISELY HOW TO RECONCILE THE NEED FOR CONTROL WITHIN THE HOME AND THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS WHICH GO WITH COMMUNITY LIVING, WITH THE INDIVIDUALIZED RELATIONSHIPS WHICH THE NEW APPROACH IN TREATMENT DEMANDS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, IN ESSENCE, THE TRANSITION FROM APPROVED SCHOOLS TO COMMUNITY HOMES HAS MEANT A CHANGE IN NAME, BUT VERY LITTLE ELSE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)