NCJ Number
177479
Journal
American Jails Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: May/June 1999 Pages: 51-57
Date Published
1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The extent to which practices might differ for adults and juveniles housed in adult jails and prisons in Kansas was investigated.
Abstract
All respondents indicated a single classification system was employed regardless of age. Three of four jails surveyed said inmate behavior was a primary concern when classifying inmates. Juveniles were likely to be housed with adult convicts, and policies did not exist for the special management needs of juvenile inmates. The Kansas Department of Corrections provided direct program services to all inmates in prison, including academic and vocational education, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. Although these programs were not specific to juvenile inmates, there was some indication that age was considered when providing programs to meet the needs of individual inmates. Overall, however, programs were primarily developed to meet the needs of adult inmates who represented the majority of the prison population. Correctional facility staffing policies did not take into account the juvenile population, and the facilities did not receive additional funding to specifically address issues associated with the incarceration of juvenile inmates. The need for appropriate and effective correctional policies to deal with the special management and programming needs of juvenile inmates is discussed, primarily in the context of prisoner victimization, legal liability, treatment needs, and outcomes. 23 references