NCJ Number
63009
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
A STAFF REPORT FOR THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE'S JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMITTEE ANALYZED JUVENILE CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION.
Abstract
AS A FOLLOWUP TO A 1978 REPORT ON COSTS OF SERVICES FOR DELINQUENT YOUTH, THE COMMITTEE STAFF INTERVIEWED OFFICIALS AND STAFF MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY (DES), THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (DOC), AND DIRECTORS OF PRIVATE PROGRAMS. VISITS WERE MADE TO THE ADOBE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL, A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, AND PERTINENT STATE LAWS, AGENCY BUDGETS, CASELOAD STATISTICS, ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS, CASE REPORTS, AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS WERE REVIEWED. DES PLACES YOUTHS JUDGED BY THE COURT AS INCORRIGIBLE IN ITS FOSTER HOMES OR IN PRIVATELY CONTRACTED PROGRAMS. DELINQUENT JUVENILES ARE COMMITTED TO THE DOC WHICH OPERATES THREE JUVENILE INSTITUTIONS AND A FEW RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. THE REPORT FOUND THAT DES, DOC, AND THE COURTS DUPLICATED DIAGNOSTIC AND EVALUATIVE SERVICES, AND THAT RATES FOR CONTRACTED SERVICES VARIED WIDELY BETWEEN THE TWO AGENCIES. IN ADDITION, DOC INSTITUTIONS ARE OVERCROWDED AND, IN THE CASE OF THE ADOBE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL, HAVE VIOLATED STATE LAW CONCERNING INSTITUTIONAL SEPARATION OF ADULT AND MINOR OFFENDERS. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN DOC PROGRAMS WAS JUDGED TO BE VERY LOW, AND DES HAD FAILED TO COLLECT ASSESSMENTS FOR SPECIAL PROGRAMS FROM PARENTS WHO COULD AFFORD TO PAY. THE REPORT CONCLUDED THAT COORDINATION BETWEEN DOC AND DES WAS MINIMAL AND THAT BOTH AGENCIES LACKED EVALUATION AND LONG RANGE PLANNING PROGRAMS. LEGISLATION WAS PROPOSED TO INCREASE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED IMPROVED COOPERATION BETWEEN JUVENILE AGENCIES OVER DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SYSTEM TO MONITOR COST AND SERVICES, AND A SUBSIDY SYSTEM SIMILAR TO ONE IN MINNESOTA WHICH ENCOURAGES THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE DATA ON COSTS OF SERVICES FOR DELINQUENT AND INCORRIGIBLE JUVENILES. (MJM)