NCJ Number
56716
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION THAT TRAINS PERSONNEL FOR HUMAN SERVICES AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE 'NONSYSTEM' IS CRITIQUED AND A POLICY FOR REFORM PROPOSED.
Abstract
ONE ASSUMPTION UNDERLYING THIS DISCUSSION IS THAT NEITHER THE 30 DIFFERENT GRADUATE PROGRAMS OFFERING SPECIALIZATIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE OR CORRECTIONS, OR THE SPECIALIZATIONS IN SEVERAL SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL WORK (ALLEGEDLY PREPARING GRADUATES FOR JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL SETTINGS), HAVE HAD, OR ARE NOW HAVING, ANY APPRECIABLE IMPACT UPON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. A SECOND ASSUMPTION HELD IS THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SYSTEMS OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION EXIST IN A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP, WHICH MAINTAINS THE RESPECTIVE SYSTEM, BUT HAS ONLY MINOR IMPACT ON YOUTH PROBELMS. UNITS WITHIN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM INCLUDE JUVENILE COURTS, POLICE, HOLDING UNITS, REFORMATORIES, PROTECTIVE CARE UNITS, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. WHILE THE INTRODUCTION OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION UNDER THE POLICE SYSTEM MAY HAVE RESULTED IN THE USE OF NEW SOCIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL WORK JARGON AMONG POLICE PERSONNEL, IT HAS RESULTED IN LITTLE CHANGE IN THE WAY POLICE HANDLE JUVENILES. THE JUVENILE JUDGE, THE CENTRAL FIGURE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, MAY BE TRAINED IN CASE LAW, BUT TYPICALLY HAS HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING IN HOW TO ORCHESTRATE THE APPLICATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES TO YOUTH WITH COMPLEX PROBLEMS. CORRECTIONS HAS NOT SHOWN AN ABILITY TO REHABILITATE JUVENILES, AND INCREASED DETENTION HAS BEEN THE ANSWER FOR THIS FAILURE. THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM INTENDED TO PREPARE PEOPLE TO ENTER JUVENILE JUSTICE FIELDS HAS DONE LITTLE TO IMPROVE THE HANDLING OF YOUTH. RATHER THAN PREPARING PROFESSIONALS TO ADAPT TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM, EDUCATION SHOULD HELP THEM TO COPE WITH PROBLEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED UNDER EXISTING PERFORMANCE PATTERNS. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, PLEASE SEE NCJ 56707-56715 AND 56717.