NCJ Number
68906
Date Published
Unknown
Length
215 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES AND PRACTICES CONCLUDES THAT SEVERAL CHANGES IN JUVENILE PROCESSING AND DETENTION ARE NEEDED.
Abstract
DATA WERE COLLECTED THROUGH PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF 139 COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL DETENTION FACILITIES AND 48 NONSECURE GROUP HOME FACILITIES AS WELL AS A SURVEY OF JUVENILE PROCESSING IN 15 COUNTIES. THE ONSITE INSPECTIONS REVEALED TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS: LACK OF PROGRESS IN MEETING THE FEDERAL MANDATE OF REMOVING STATUS OFFENDERS FROM DETENTION AND AN INABILITY TO PROVIDE SIGHT AND SOUND SEPARATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND ADULT OFFENDERS. RESULTS ALSO SHOWED LITTLE UNIFORMITY OF REPORTING OR PROCESSING OF JUVENILES AMONG THE STATE'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND COURTS. LESS THAN 10 OF THE 139 INCARCERATION AGENCIES CONTACTED HAD A WRITTEN POLICY FOR RECORDING PROCESSING, TREATING, OR TRANSPORTING JUVENILES. A UNIFORM JUVENILE DETENTION POLICY IS NEEDED. THE POLICY SHOULD COVER REMOVAL OF STATUS OFFENDERS, CONFINEMENT OF JUVENILES, A UNIFORM CERTIFICATION PROCESS, TRANSPORTATION OF JUVENILES, A UNIFORM REPORTING PROCEDURE, AND A TRAINING MODULE. THE REMOVAL OF STATUS OFFENDERS SHOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER EXPANDING JUVENILE DETENTION BED SPACE. LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS SHOULD DEVELOP ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS TO USE THE AVAILABLE NONSECURE HOLDING FACILITIES. THE STATE SHOULD HAVE A TWO-TIER SYSTEM OF JUVENILE HOLDING FACILITIES: SHELTER FACILITIES AND DETENTION FACILITIES WITH TOTAL SIGHT AND SOUND SEPARATION OF ADULTS AND JUVENILES. DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PRESENT JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND JUVENILE POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS, PHOTOGRAPHS, TABLES, MAPS, AND AN APPENDIX PRESENTING THE SAMPLE SURVEY FORM, ENABLING LEGISLATION, AND A REPORT ON JUVENILE SHELTER FACILITIES ARE INCLUDED.