NCJ Number
57693
Date Published
1979
Length
235 pages
Annotation
MASSACHUSETTS' CLOSING OF ITS JUVENILE TRAINING SCHOOLS IN FAVOR OF COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES IS EXAMINED, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CORRECTIONS REFORM ARE DRAWN.
Abstract
OVERVIEWS OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS IN GENERAL AND THE RATIONALE FOR DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION IN MASSACHUSETTS IN PARTICULAR OPEN THE DISCUSSION. DETAILS ARE PROVIDED OF THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THE DECISION TO CLOSE MASSACHUSETTS' JUVENILE CORRECTIONS INSTITUTIONS, THE STRATEGIES USED, AND THE LESSONS LEARNED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS IS DESCRIBED, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, FOSTER CARE, AND FAMILY/COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION STRATEGIES; THE REGIONALIZATION AND PURCHASE-OF-SERVICE FEATURES OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED SYSTEM; THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF STAFF FOR THE SYSTEM; AND THE MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS. THE CREATION OF INTENSIVE PROGRAMS IN SECURE SETTINGS FOR VIOLENT JUVENILE OFFENDERS IS CITED AS THE ACHILLES' HEEL OF THE MASSACHUSETTS REFORM, AND ISSUES SURROUNDING CORRECTIONS POLICY IN DEALING WITH SUCH YOUTHS ARE DISCUSSED. LESSONS IN SOCIAL CHANGE AND CORRECTIONS REFORM DERIVED FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS EXPERIENCE ARE EXAMINED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE CULTURAL, POLITICAL, AND LEADERSHIP ASPECTS OF THESE PROCESSES. PRINCIPLES OF THE CHANGE PROCESS IN CORRECTIONS ARE OUTLINED. THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF STRONG, CHARISMATIC LEADERSHIP IN ACHIEVING STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE IS BROUGHT OUT. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)