NCJ Number
35792
Date Published
1976
Length
179 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT OF A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE CRITERIA USED BY STAFF MEMBERS AT JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN DECIDING WHICH JUVENILES SHOULD RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY ON PROBATION AND WHAT CONDITIONS ARE ATTACHED TO PAROLE.
Abstract
DATA WERE COLLECTED THROUGH SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATIONS OF OVER FIFTY STAFFINGS, A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE OF 214 CASES FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, A SURVEY OF STAFF ATTITUDES, AND A DECISION GAME IN WHICH STAFF MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT HYPOTHETICAL CASES SELECTED FROM THE FILES. RESULTS REVEALED THAT DECISION-MAKING IN THE MINNESOTA JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IS DONE IN AN UNSYSTEMATIC AND RANDOM WAY. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE HANDLING OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND PROMOTE MORE EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE CODING FORMAT EMPLOYED IN THE CONTENT ANALYSIS OF THE STAFFING REPORTS AND THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED TO ASSESS STAFF ATTITUDES.