NCJ Number
102216
Date Published
Unknown
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Act stipulates that no juvenile shall be detained or confined in any adult jail or lockup.
Abstract
A State-by-State comparison of juvenile jailings, based on jail census data for 1978 and 1983 indicates the number of juvenile jailings fluctuated across the country, with no region reporting fewer jailings than another. Of the 46 reporting States, 28 reduced juvenile jailings, while 16 increased them. Nonetheless, overall detentions of juveniles in adult facilities are declining, and this trend continues as the 1985 compliance deadline approaches. As part of the National Jail Removal Initiative, innovative programs have been developed at 23 sites in 13 States. Prior to the initiative, the participating States had little access to either secure or nonsecure juvenile detention. They had no intake screening units, and they did not use objective detention criteria. Efforts at the sites focused on remedying these problems; once alternative services were established, many were able to reduce juvenile jailings significantly. Across all the sites, jailings decreased by 55 percent (45 percent when adjusted for decreased intakes). Further, the overall decrease in secure placements (jail and secure juvenile detention) was accompanied by an increase in nonsecure placements and releases. Major program initiatives at the sites contributing to these outcomes included the development of 24-hour intake screening and screening criteria, crisis intervention, detention transportation arrangements, and the development of secure and nonsecure (shelters, foster care) detention options. 3 tables.