STATE OF THE ART OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM (FROM JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM - NEW DIRECTIONS IN POLICY AND PROGRAMS, 1977, BY PETER J ECK AND BRENDA BRADSHAW - SEE NCJ-56707)

• NCJ Number: 56709
• Author(s): J MILLER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Texas at Arlington
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

RESULTS FROM THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 1972 ARE INTERPRETED, AND EFFORTS AT JUVENILE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION IN PENNSYLVANIA ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

A RECENT STUDY SHOWS THAT THE NUMBER OF YOUTH INSTITUTIONALIZED IN THE UNITED STATES IS GROWING. THE RATE DECREASED IN 1972, PRIMARILY AS A RESULT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, BUT IN MOST STATES THE FIGURE IS NOT DROPPING. DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION SHOULD BE THE MAJOR CONCERN IN JUVENILE JUSTICE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION WHICH WILL DRAW MORE JUVENILES UNDER JUVENILE JUSTICE SUPERVISION WHO WOULD HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN RETURNED HOME FOR PARENTAL SUPERVISION; RATHER, IT MEANS DEALING WITH JUVENILES IN THE CONTEXT OF A NONCUSTODIAL COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT. SINCE JUVENILE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION IN 1972, MASSACHUSETTS HAS NOT HAD MORE THAN 50 TO 75 YOUTHS IN A JAIL SETTING ON ANY GIVEN DAY. NOW THE STATE IS USING ABOUT 250 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, SUCH AS HALFWAY HOUSES, GROUP HOMES, FOSTER CARE, AND ADVOCACY PROGRAMS. THE CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT HARVARD LAW SCHOOL CONDUCTED A STUDY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS EXPERIENCE WHICH GENERALLY SHOWED THAT IN TERMS OF LATER RECIDIVISM OR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, GROUP HOMES ARE NOT MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE FORMER INSTITUTIONS. HOWEVER, THE STUDY DID SHOW THAT SOME COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS WERE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN OTHERS. THE MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAM WAS SPECIALIZED FOSTER HOMES, WHICH PROVIDED FOR A CAREFUL MATCHING OF JUVENILES WITH ADULTS IN A HOME SITUATION. THE SECOND MOST EFFECTIVE PROGRAM WAS THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM, IN WHICH COLLEGE STUDENTS WERE HIRED AND RECEIVED ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR SPENDING SOME 20 TO 50 HOURS A WEEK WITH ONE PROBLEM YOUTH. SIGNIFICANTLY, JUVENILE CRIME RATES DID NOT INCREASE AFTER DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, AND IN FACT, VIOLENT YOUTH CRIME DECREASED. IN PENNSYLVANIA, EFFORTS AT JUVENILE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION HAVE BEEN MINIMAL, BUT DUE TO AN OPINION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, ONE LARGE ADULT FACILITY HAS BEEN CLOSED TO JUVENILES IN THE FACE OF AN EXISTING LAW THAT PERMITS SENTENCING JUVENILES TO ADULT PRISONS. IT IS ASSERTED THAT ADVANCEMENT IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONS WILL NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED BY TIMID BUREAUCRATS, BUT BY BOLD LEADERS WHO DARE TO ADOPT NEW, MORE HUMANE PROGRAMS FOR EVEN THE MOST RECALCITRANT JUVENILE OFFENDERS. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, PLEASE SEE NCJ 56707-56708 AND 56710-56717.