NCJ Number
79016
Date Published
1978
Length
714 pages
Annotation
Testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency examines progress in the implementation of the 1974 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.
Abstract
The 1974 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act makes Federal funds available to States, localities, and public and private agencies for the purpose of improving existing systems of juvenile justice. The act gives high priority to the removal of juvenile status offenders from adult jails and other secure facilities and institutions. Congress specifically required that all States receiving grants under the act must cease the secure detention of status offenders. The testimony presented at the hearings is intended to reveal the extent to which the deinstitutionalization provision is being enforced by grantees. Testimony from various officials and organizational representatives gives State and national data on the deinstitutionalization of status offenders, discusses types of alternatives to juvenile detention being implemented, and identifies various problems in implementing the act. Support for the aims of the act is unanimous among witnesses; however, its time limit of 2 years for grantees to deinstitutionalize status offenders, inadequate funding to develop noninstitutional alternative programs for status offenders, and the administration of the act are cited as major problems. Overall, data presented show that about 20 of 48 responding States were in compliance with the deinstitutionalization requirement for adjudicated status offenders and 10 States were in compliance regarding alleged status offenders. Other States reported progress toward compliance. Supplementary material describes program alternatives to secure detention for status offenders and juvenile delinquents.