NCJ Number
158715
Date Published
1989
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Between 1981 and 1987, a considerable reduction occurred in the number of juvenile offenders between 14 and 16 years of age who were sentenced to prison department custody, from 7,900 receptions to 4,100.
Abstract
The reduced number of juvenile offenders sentenced to prison department custody has raised questions about the appropriateness of such custody, particularly whether prison department custody should be used for only the most serious juvenile offenders. Over the last few years, a range of community-based initiatives has been developed which recognize juvenile offenders do not constitute a homogeneous group. These initiatives aim to make young people aware of their offenses, look for constructive solutions, and recognize the danger of giving a young person a criminal identity. Community-based programs appear to be effective, since most juvenile offenders attending community schemes complete their programs without reoffending. Limits of community-based programs are noted, and recommendations to reform juvenile corrections in England are offered that focus on community-based programs.