Competing Definitions of Troublesome Children and Youth in Virginia (From Neither Angels nor Thieves - Studies in Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders, P 464-512, 1982, Joel F Handler and Julie Zatz, ed. - See NCJ-84933)

• NCJ Number: 84945
• Author(s): S L Nock; W M Alves
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 49 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; National Academies Press
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-84933

Annotation

The deinstitutionalization of status offenders in Virginia local areas is examined, with particular attention to Richmond and Charlottesville.

Abstract

The study of local areas revealed three competing models of children in need of supervision (CHINS) as perceived by various actors in the juvenile justice system: (1) the no-difference model, in which CHINS are seen as being no different from any other child regardless of what label is applied; (2) the minimal-difference model, in which differences between CHINS and other children are acknowledged to exist, but the differences are seen as fuzzy at best, and differential consequences in placement and treatment strategies are not obvious; and (3) the greatest-difference model, in which CHINS are viewed as a unique class of children, often exhibiting more problematic behaviors than other children. In Richmond, all troublesome children were seen as identical by local judges (the no-difference model), while in Charlottesville, CHINS were viewed as uniquely different from other troublesome children (the greatest-difference model). Direct service providers in the two localities, however, adhere to differing models of CHINS compared to their respective judges. The existence of these competing models of CHINS account for most of the problems in implementing change in the way in which services are provided to CHINS. Eighteen references and the names of officials interviewed are provided.