ROLE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST AS A PUBLIC POLICY PLANNER IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONS (FROM THE ROLE OF THE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST, 1980, BY GERALD COOKE - SEE NCJ-67157)

• NCJ Number: 67164
• Author(s): M E PARRISH
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. THIS IS A REVISION OF A PAPER ORIGINALLY PRESENTED AS PART OF A SYMPOSIUM AT THE ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, WASHINGTON, DC 1976

Annotation

A PSYCHOLOGIST'S ROLE AS PUBLIC POLICY PLANNING CONSULTANT IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONS IS DISCUSSED.

Abstract

BASED ON A FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST'S ACTUAL EXPERIENCE, THIS STUDY DESCRIBES THE PUBLIC POLICY PLANNING ASPECTS OF THE ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT OF 408 JUVENILE OFFENDERS, WHOSE REMOVAL FROM AN ADULT MEDIUM SECURITY FACILITY WAS ORDERED BY PENNSYLVANIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEIR INCARCERATION WAS IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSIONER OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH; SURROUNDED BY CONTROVERSY AND PUBLICITY IN THE LOCAL MEDIA; AND DEBATED BY LOCAL POLITICIANS, BUREAUCRATS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE; THE ISSUE OF REMOVING JUVENILE OFFENDERS, FROM DEHUMANIZING SURROUNDINGS INTERACTED WITH JUDICIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO DETERMINE THE DISPOSITION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS, AND ENTAILED ENTAILED BUREAUCRATIC STRUGGLES TO PLAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW FACILITIES/PROGRAMS AND THE APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATORS. PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE INMATES AND SCREENING OF POSSIBLY DANGEROUS INMATES WERE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE PROJECT. THE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS CONSULTED FORMULATED PROCEDURES FOR INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION OF THE INMATES, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DISPOSITION OF EACH CASE. THE PROJECT WAS EXPECTED TO CREATE A PRECEDENT IN SETTING GUIDELINES FOR SIMILAR TRANSFERS. A LIST OF NINE REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LGR)