DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS

• NCJ Number: 44930
• Author(s): R E TRIMBLE; E A MOORE
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 0 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; National District Atorneys Assoc
• Corporate Author: Teach 'Em Inc
• Sale Source: National District Atorneys Assoc
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. 25 MINUTES, 1976 RECORDED AT THE THIRD NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE, 1976

Annotation

TRENDS IN DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION AND THE PROGRAM IN MASSACHUSETTS AS WELL AS ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY AND CRITICISM OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS SERIES OF SPEECHES.

Abstract

THE SCANDALS AND MISMANAGEMENT OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE 1960'S RESULTED IN SEVERAL STUDIES ON JUVENILE CORRECTIONS. A SURVEY BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY (NCCD) FOUND THAT MANY OF THESE REPORTS WERE TRUE. FURTHER STUDIES SHOWED THAT COMMUNITY TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS MAY BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL CARE. IN 1972, NCCD CALLED FOR A HALT TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES FOR JUVENILES AND DEMANDED INCREASED COMMUNITY TREATMENT PROGRAMS. SINCE THIS REPORT, THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING TREND AWAY FROM CONFINING PEOPLE IN INSTITUTIONS AND A MOVE TOWARD COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS. IN 1973, THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND GOALS REQUESTED THAT NO MORE INSTITUTIONS BE BUILT FOR JUVENILES, AND THAT EXISTING FACILITIES BE PHASED OUT OVER A 5-YEAR PERIOD. ANOTHER NCCD RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REMOVE STATUS OFFENDERS FROM THE JURISDICTION OF JUVENILE COURT. PARTLY BECAUSE OF THIS PRESSURE, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT WAS PASSED IN 1974 TO COORDINATE EFFORTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILES AT ALL LEVELS. IN THE MASSACHUSETTS DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION EXPERIENCE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES DECIDED THAT THE INSTITUTIONS SHOULD ALL BE CLOSED AND COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT THE STATE. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE MANY PROBLEMS WITH CONSOLIDATION OF THE PROGRAM, THE RESULTS SHOW THAT IT IS EFFECTIVE. THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMICAL ASPECTS OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. ALTHOUGH COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS ARE CHEAPER, THE CHANGEOVER PROCESS IS MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE BOTH TYPES OF CORRECTIONS MUST BE FINANCED AT THE SAME TIME. THE DIRECT STATE OPERATION OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE PURCHASE OF SERVICES WOULD BE. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF CRITICISM OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, BUT ITS DEFENDERS CLAIM THAT IT IS MORE EFFECTIVE, ECONOMICAL, AND HUMANE AND THAT IT PROVIDES FOR DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, DIVERSION, AND ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS. THE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF JUVENILES ARE PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS. IN THE FUTURE, THE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS SHOULD BE RUN LOCALLY BY LOCAL PEOPLE WHO ARE AWARE OF THE NEEDS OF THE DELINQUENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. (BAC)