Statement of Robert D Vinter on September 28, 1977 Concerning Implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (From Implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 - Hearings, P 222-227, 1978 - See NCJ-79016)

• NCJ Number: 79022
• Author(s): R D Vinter
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-79016.

Annotation

The extent of juvenile institutionalization, arguments for deinstitutionalization of juveniles, and alternatives to institutions for status offenders are discussed.

Abstract

In 1974--the last year for which there are comparative statistics--States assigned an average of 86 percent of all committed youth to institutions, ranches, and camps. At least six States were still sending all these cases to institutions, and only four States were assigning 50 percent or more of these cases to noninstitutional facilities. Advocates of deinstitutionalization for juvenile offenders, especially status offenders, argue that (1) incarceration in closed facilities is harmful to the positive development of youth; (2) institutions are not effective in rehabilitating residents; and (3) institutional corrections is not cost-effective. Institutionalization of status offenders is deemed especially unjust, because such limitations on freedom do not reflect the status offender's dangerousness to the community. Despite States' slowness to deinstitutionalize juveniles, alternatives to institutionalization are increasingly being developed, and status offenders are being statutorily prohibited from being institutionalized. Alternatives to institutionalization for status offenders generally consist of nonresidential programs where youths remain in their homes while participating in various community services designed to meet particular needs and residential programs involving foster care, small group homes, hostels, and halfway houses.