NCJ Number
141405
Date Published
Unknown
Length
35 pages
Annotation
A follow-up study of 97 adolescent boys incarcerated in a Connecticut correctional school in the late 1970's was used to examine the subjects' current educational, occupational, interpersonal, and therapeutic experiences and to explore the interaction between neuropsychiatric vulnerabilities, abuse, early violence, and post-juvenile incarceration.
Abstract
The findings showed that, after serving their juvenile sentences, most of the subjects were sent home, to nontherapeutic group homes, or to disciplinary residential institutions. Only a few were placed in therapeutic schools or hospitals. Most of the subjects subsequently dropped out of school, received little if any job training, and committed numerous, often violent, crimes. Those with the greatest number of vulnerabilities tended to commit the most violent offenses, particularly if they had been abused as children. One surprising finding was that the children who adapted best were those returned to violent and dysfunctional homes. On the other hand, institutionalization seemed inimical to adequate social adaptation. The findings indicate that incarcerating juveniles in situations similar to those of adult offenders is in effective and probably destructive. Even institutions for extremely dangerous youth have the responsibility of enhancing their capacities to function in a free society. 3 tables and 20 references