NCJ Number
72877
Date Published
1976
Length
43 pages
Annotation
This report points to the lack of much needed separate services for status offenders and Children in Need of Supervision (CHINS) in New Mexico and presents a preliminary plan for creating such services.
Abstract
Status offenders are juveniles who commit minor offenses such as truancy, running away from home or drinking; CHINS are a court adjudicated category of status offenders. Due to a lack of specific community services these children and youth are often dealt with by the criminal justice system. The resultant contact with adult and juvenile offenders with established criminal behaviors often has a demoralizing effect on these youthful offenders. In addition, this procedure defies the 1972 Children's Code of New Mexico which prohibits detaining juvenile status offenders in facilities used for incarceration of adult and juvenile criminals. The preliminary plan for providing the needed services includes both the improvement of existing and the development of new residential group homes. In addition, the plan calls for a youth employment program, adoption and probation subsidies, an increase in foster care public awareness, and local shelter care and counseling for runaways. It is recommended that the responsibility for these services be given to the Health and Social Services Department (HSSD) which has traditionally provided such services as foster care, adoptions, and shelter and counseling services. The cost of implementation of the plan is estimated to be $80,000 for Phase I, which HSSD would provide out of existing budgetary resources, and $420,000 for Phase II. Details of the plan, including a flow chart which explains the implementation of the plan is estimated to be $80,000 for the Phase I, which HSSD would provide out of existing budgetary resources, and $420,000 for Phase II. Details of the plan, including a flow chart which explains the implementation process and a discussion of social causes of maladjustment, are provided. An analysis of CHINS and status offenders statistics for 1975 as well as juvenile office referral statistics, and a description of the existing services are also included. Recommendations for structural changes at the State and local level and for the establishment of the Youth Service Offices are made.