NCJ Number
50918
Date Published
1978
Length
259 pages
Annotation
REFORM OF THE MASSACHUSETTS JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHICH FOCUSED ON DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF YOUTH AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT, IS ASSESSED REGARDING THE IMPACT ON CLIENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
Abstract
THE CONCEPTUAL MODEL USED FOR DESCRIBING COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES IS OUTLINED AND A CASE IS ARGUED FOR EXPANDING THE TRADITIONAL CONCEPTION OF THE CORRECTIONS ARENA. FOLLOWING A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE REFORM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN TO MODIFY TRAINING SCHOOLS, THE ACTIONS TAKEN TO ACTUALLY CLOSE THEM, AND THE STEPS THAT LED TO THE FORMATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED SYSTEM, A COMPARISON IS DRAWN BETWEEN THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONS AND THAT IN THE COMMUNITY-BASED SYSTEM. THE RESEARCH DESIGN IS DISCUSSED IN NONTECHNICAL TERMS AND AN EVALUATION MODEL IS PRESENTED. THE RESEARCH FOCUSED ON A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF A CORE SAMPLE OF NEARLY 500 YOUTHS WHO WERE REPEATEDLY INTERVIEWED FROM DETENTION THROUGH THE CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS UNTIL THEY HAD BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR 6 MONTHS. DETENTION DECISIONS AND THE SHORTRUN CONSEQUENCES OF DETENTION ARE DISCUSSED, AS ARE THE FACTORS THAT TENDED TO INFLUENCE IN WHICH PROGRAM AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES AN INDIVIDUAL YOUTH WAS PLACED. THE CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING BEEN IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF PROGRAM SETTINGS ARE IDENTIFIED, WITH ATTENTION TO SUCH FACTORS AS SELF-IMAGE AND RELATIONS WITH SIGNIFICANT OTHERS. RECIDIVISM DATA ARE ALSO ANALYZED; SYSTEM RATES AND PROGRAM RATES ARE COMPARED; AND AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO IDENTIFY THOSE FACTORS MOST CRITICAL FOR HINDERING OR FACILITATING REINTEGRATION. FINALLY, CONCLUSIONS ARE PROVIDED REGARDING GENERAL REFORM ISSUES, ALONG WITH POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND FOR MANAGING A COMMUNITY-BASED SYSTEM. SAMPLING AND REGRESSION ANALYSIS METHODS AND SELECTED BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS ON A COMPLETED COHORT SAMPLE ARE APPENDED. TABULAR DATA, REFERENCE NOTES, AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED.