Juvenile Secure Detention

• NCJ Number: 114868
• Journal: Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring/Summer 1988) Pages: 57-76
• Author(s): L S Rosner
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This paper is based on work done for the Westchester Citizens Committee of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency during 1975-83. It was presented at the American Society of Criminology, November 1986.

Annotation

Detention of juveniles means holding a minor in custody until someone, somewhere, under vague circumstances determines the best course of action for the youngster. Since standards and goals for such detention are often vague, a wide variety of citizen action groups have attempted to develop criteria for secure detention.

Abstract

This article examines the issues which surround this detention of young people, and specifically looks at Westchester County, in New York State, as it attempts to comply with the increasing number of juveniles held due to New York State's Juvenile Offender Law. The length of stay, violation of the 'least restrictive principle' and the negative effects in youth are all discussed. The author concludes that new statutory criteria must be developed for admission of youths to secure facilities and that the burden of proof must be on the state and not on the youth about to be detained. (Author abstract)