Training Project on Implementation of Deinstitutionalization

• NCJ Number: 80137
• Author(s): L E Ohlin; B Russell
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 65 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-JN-AX-0023
• Sponsoring Agency: US Securities and Exchange Cmssn
• Corporate Author: Harvard University Law School
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report summarizes seven training sessions on deinstitutionalization of juvenile offenders which were conducted in 1978-79 for professionals and organizations involved in juvenile justice by the Harvard Law School's Center for Criminal Justice, and original evaluator of Massachusetts' deinstitutionalization programs.

Abstract

This project sought to disseminate research findings about Massachusetts' efforts to move delinquents from training schools to community facilities and correct any rumors or myths about the Massachusetts experience. To assess the training sessions, selected participants were surveyed 3 to 6 months following the meetings. Descriptions of the seven training sessions cover organization, major issues, and participants' evaluations. A seminar on deinstitutionalization was first held for 12 States in Cambridge, Mass. Workshops on contemporary issues in the care and treatment of juvenile offenders were conducted by request in Utah and Washington State. The strategies and impact of Massachusetts' programs were presented, followed by discussions on applying this research to another State's problems. The fourth training session consisted of a workshop on deinstitutionalization and alternatives to incarceration for a Governors' Conference on Crime Control in Washington, D.C. Since the first four sessions had targeted State personnel, the project decided to shift its attention to national organizations, beginning with a workshop for groups such as the American Bar Association and the American Correctional Association. Issues addressed included criteria for secure care, the system of contracting with private vendors for youth services, costs, and recidivism. The project then cooperated with the Ohio Youth Commission and the Academy of Contemporary Problems to produce a workshop on the implications of the Massachusetts reforms for Ohio. The final workshop was held under the auspices of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in Reno, Nev. A discussion of respondents' assessments concludes that most thought the Massachusetts experience was relevant to their own concerns and the training sessions had successfully dispelled any misconceptions. The appendix contains 18 references and the followup questionnaires.