NCJ Number
73998
Date Published
1978
Length
37 pages
Annotation
The first report of the Mayor's Task Force on the Spofford Juvenile Center in New York City documents steps completed and activities initiated to improve the physical security, to segregate those children who are violent or disturbed, and to eventually close Spofford.
Abstract
Three factors have led to the institution's failure to provide a safe, secure, and humane environment; (1) Spofford is too large, poorly designed, and insufficiently accessible; (2) Spofford is not designed to house separately the wide variety of children being held there; and (3) Spofford has been poorly managed, with insufficient resources and staff support. A survey on March 11, 1978 of 139 juveniles in detention at Spofford found that a sizable number did not need secure detention. There is no 24-hour intake in Spofford's nonsecure detention facilities, resulting in unacceptable comingling of juveniles awaiting fact finding or adjudication with delinquents remanded to the custody of the Division for Youth (DFY). The report suggests that Spofford be phased out in favor of small, secure detention facilities of no more than 20 beds located as near as practicable to the family court of each borough. Also, the feasibility of establishing a facility in New York which would receive juveniles directly after a court order of commitment to DFY is received should be examined. Other recommendations for Spofford include initiation of an intake project to provide an effective intake, screening, and referral system at Spofford with provision for the return of children not requiring secure detention to their families or transportation to nonsecure facilities; new admission and classification processes based on age, sex, seriousness of the charge, history of prior involvement with the law, and record of assaultive behavior; corrective measures to increase the physical security of Spofford to prevent escapes; and continuing the monitoring of health services to Spofford residents.