Standards Relating to Corrections Administration

• NCJ Number: 83566
• Author(s): A Rutherford; F Cohen
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 223 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-JN-99-0018; 78-JN-AX-0002; 74-NI-99-0043; 71-NI-99-0014; 75-NI-99-0101; 72-NI-99-0032
• Sponsoring Agency: American Bar Endowment; Andrew W Mellon Foundation; Vincent Astor Foundation; Herman Goldman Foundation; National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Securities and Exchange Cmssn; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Juvenile Justice Standards Project
• Sale Source: Ballinger Publishing Co
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

These juvenile justice standards for corrections administration focus on jurisdiction of the department responsible for the administration of juvenile corrections, organization and personnel, required program features, modification of dispositions, nonresidential and residential programs, the disciplinary system, and accountability.

Abstract

General principles emphasize the importance of using the least restrictive program, fairness and legal rights, accountability, and reducing the number of juveniles subject to correctional supervision. A single statewide department for the administration of juvenile corrections is preferred, although the standards permit local administration when appropriate. The department retains responsibility for program placement and the development of quality control methods in both public and private programs. Given the variety of geographic and political considerations, no single organizational model is preferred. Personnel policy allows for both career and short-term appointments, recognizing that the personal qualities of the staff who work directly with juveniles are of paramount importance. One group of standards describes the required features of all programs and expressly provides that adjudicated juveniles under correctional supervision retain all rights except those suspended or modified by the court's disposition. Another group of standards presents the procedural requirements for a modification of the court's original disposition. The conditions that the court may impose when making a community supervision order are limited. Such dispositions should indicate the intensity of supervision desired. Standards for residential programs emphasize the creation of an environment that approximates community living. Standards for the disciplinary system provide that the more serious the infraction and the more onerous the possible sanction, the more formal the disciplinary procedure. Accountability standards cover grievance procedures, monitoring and evaluation activities, and a planning process open to public scrutiny. A dissenting view and a bibliography of about 180 listings are provided. (Author summary modified)