NCJ Number
47917
Journal
OFFENDER REHABILITATION Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1977) Pages: 159-172
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
AN EXPERIMENTAL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO REHABILITATE AND REDUCE RECIDIVISM AMONG JUVENILE OFFENDERS IS DESCRIBED, WITH REFERENCE TO FOLLOWUP STUDIES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
Abstract
THE ROBERT F KENNEDY YOUTH CENTER'S PHILOSOPHY, ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE, INMATE CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT METHODS, EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND TOKEN ECONOMY SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS NOTED THAT DECENTRALIZATION OF AUTHORITY WAS AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONAL FEATURE DISTINGUISHING THE CENTER FROM OTHER FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES FOR YOUTHS. MAJOR EVALUATIVE AND RESEARCH STUDIES PERFORMED AT THE CENTER ARE SUMMARIZED. TWO-YEAR FOLLOWUP DATA INDICATED THAT YOUTHS RELEASED FROM THE CENTER HAD BETTER PAROLE RECORDS THAN COMPARABLE YOUTHS RELEASED FROM CONTROL INSTITUTIONS. HOWEVER, 3-YEAR FOLLOWUP DATA SHOWED NO DIFFERENCES IN RECIDIVISM BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS. THE KENNEDY YOUTH CENTER'S EXPERIENCE IS SAID TO DEMONSTRATE THAT CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS ULTIMATELY REFLECT STAFF ADAPTATIONS TO CONDITIONS PREVAILING BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE INSTITUTION. IT IS NOTED THAT, ALTHOUGH TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR REHABILITATION IS EXTANT, THERE DOES NOT EXIST A TECNOLOGY FOR ACCOMODATING CHANGING GOALS, OVERCROWDING, LEGAL AND SOCIAL TRENDS MILITATING AGAINST REHABILITATION, AND THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF BAHAVIORAL TECHNOLOGY AND CORRECTIONAL SETTINGS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)