NCJ Number
85797
Date Published
1980
Length
42 pages
Annotation
This report examines the juvenile pretrial detention needs of Essex County, whose Youth House holds more children for longer periods than any other New Jersey juvenile detention facility. The report projects future detention needs and recommends measures to reduce the Youth House population.
Abstract
The Community Research Forum visited Youth House in mid-1980, interviewed key officials, and conducted a survey of the characteristics of its juvenile detainees. Analysis of this data was based on three sets of recently released national standards on juvenile justice. The New Jersey juvenile code stipulates very narrow and explicit conditions governing pretrial secure detention. In reality, the population of a detention center depends on many factors within the system, such as police policies, probation staff, judges, and the availability of alternative placement programs. The study identifies several areas for reducing inappropriate admissions and length of stay. For example, the county could make greater efforts to locate parents or guardians of delinquents not needing secure custody. Also, 53 percent of Youth House population did not significantly threaten public safety or the court process, thus failing to meet national standards detention criteria. Many children stayed longer than the nationally recommended 38-day limit, largely because of delays in scheduling court hearings. If current detention practices are continued, the county would need 25 additional beds. However, only 77 of the existing 99 beds would meet the maximum needs if children ineligible for detention according to national standards are no longer detained. To achieve the goal of minimizing Youth House's population, the report outlines recommendations concerning strict criteria for pretrial detention, alternative nonsecure facilities, and more juvenile judges. Tables and a description of an innovative detention program in Massachusetts are appended.