NCJ Number
52938
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 391-396
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE LEGISLATION AND ATTITUDES LEADING TO THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCE OF INCREASING COMMITMENT FOR PERSISTENT DELINQUENTS IN ENGLAND ARE DESCRIBED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE MOST DIFFICULT AND DELINQUENT JUVENILES HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY DEALT WITH BY PERIODIC AND SOMETIMES LONG-TERM DETENTION. THIS TOOK PLACE IN REMAND HOMES, DETENTION CENTERS, APPROVED SCHOOLS (NOW COMMUNITY HOMES WITH EDUCATION), BORSTALS, AND YOUTH WINGS OF PRISONS. CURRENTLY, THERE IS INDICATED TO BE A STRONG PRESSURE FROM A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS TO ALLOW FOR MORE EXTENSIVE DETENTION OF HABITUAL DELINQUENTS. MUCH OF THE CLAMOR FOR MORE DETENTION OF HARDCORE DELINQUENTS IS BELIEVED TO BE IN REACTION TO A 1969 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT DEEMED POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT. IT PROVIDED FOR DELINQUENTS TO BE DEALT WITH PRIMARILY UNDER THE SERVICES OF WELFARE AGENCIES IN THE CONTEXT OF A CARE ORDER DETERMINED BY THE COURT. THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE ACT AND ITS SUBSEQUENT INEFFECTIVENESS IN STEMMING THE TIDE OF SERIOUS DELINQUENT CRIME ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE FUELED THE GENERAL DESIRE FOR DETENTION AS THE PRINCIPAL MEANS FOR HANDLING HARDCORE DELINQUENTS, EVEN THOUGH THIS TREND LACKS A CLEAR RATIONALE AND EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THAT WOULD SUPPORT IT AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF HANDLING DIFFICULT DELINQUENTS. THE LACK OF CLEAR STANDARDS FOR ASSESSING JUVENILES AND DETERMINING WHICH ONES REQUIRE SECURE INCARCERATION, TOGETHER WITH THE GENERALLY POOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN OVERALL TREATMENT APPROACH TO DELINQUENTS IS BELIEVED TO REVEAL THE CURRENT PRESSURE FOR MORE DETENTION FACILITIES FOR HARDCORE JUVENILES TO BE MORE OF A REACTION TO FRUSTRATION THAN A RATIONAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT. AN EMPIRICAL APPROACH TO THE CONTROL OF DELINQUENCY IS URGED, WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING THE NEED TO LOCK UP LARGE NUMBERS OF JUVENILES.