CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND THE DETENTION, DISPOSITION, AND TREATMENT OF EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED DELINQUENT YOUTHS

• NCJ Number: 55302
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 315-327
• Author(s): T M KELLEY
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 10351-3; 040001-1C
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Wayne Cty
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Sale Source: Pergamon Press
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REQUEST PHOTOCOPY OF ARTICLE WHEN ORDERING

Annotation

THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADITIONAL PSYCHODIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT RECOMMENDATION PROCESSES AND THE SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION, DETENTION, AND TREATMENT OF 'EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED' DELINQUENT YOUTHS.

Abstract

THE FIRST 100 CLIENTS EVALUATED BY A CRISIS UNIT BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND AUGUST 1, 1975, SERVED AS THE TREATMENT SAMPLE, WHILE 100 ADDITIONAL CASES REFERRED TO A REGULAR CHILD STUDY CLINIC FOR CLINICAL EVALUATION WERE SELECTED AS CONTROLS. THE TWO GROUPS WERE COMPARED IN TERMS OF THE FOLLOWING: (1) MEAN TIMES BETWEEN CASE REFERRAL AND COMPLETED CASE ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATION AND BETWEEN CASE REFERRAL AND FINAL DISPOSITION (2) TYPE OF RECOMMENDATION, (3) TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED BY THE JUVENILE COURT, (4) LENGTH OF SECURE DETENTION, AND (5) ACTUAL TREATMENT. RESULTS REVEALED THAT THE SPECIALLY FUNDED CRISIS UNIT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER THAN THE REGULAR CLINIC IN COMPLETING THE DIAGNOSTIC AND RECOMMENDATION PROCESS. HOWEVER, FOR YOUTH IN BOTH GROUPS, THE MEAN TIME BETWEEN COMPLETED RECOMMENDATION AND FINAL CASE DISPOSITION WAS OVER 50 DAYS. COMPARED WITH THE REGULAR CLINIC, THE CRISIS UNIT MADE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FAVORING INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND FEWER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT STRATEGIES. CONTRARY TO THE PREDICTED OUTCOME, HOWEVER, FEWER CRISIS UNIT RECOMMENDATIONS WERE APPROVED BY THE COURT. THE TREND WAS FOR THE COURT TO REJECT INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND TO SUPPORT REQUESTS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACHES. FURTHER, AND AGAIN CONTRARY TO THE PREDICTED OUTCOME, CRISIS UNIT CLIENTS SPENT MORE DAYS IN SECURE DETENTION. FOLLOWUP ON THE ACTUAL TREATMENT OF CRISIS UNIT CLIENTS REVEALED THAT ONLY 19 PERCENT COULD BE DOCUMENTED AS HAVING RECEIVED PART OR ALL OF THE RECOMMENDED TREATMENT. ALSO, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPROVED CLIENT ADJUSTMENT AS A RESULT OF TREATMENT EFFORTS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT A NEED EXISTS FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE ACCOUNTABILITY MODELS AND HEURISTIC MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES WITHIN THE JUVENILE COURT AND CORRECTIONS SYSTEMS. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. NO REFERENCES ARE CITED. (KBL)