NCJ Number
199469
Date Published
2000
Length
74 pages
Annotation
This document provides guidelines for educational personnel of juvenile justice programs.
Abstract
Florida law mandates that the Department of Education develop model procedures for transitioning youth into and out of Department of Juvenile Justice programs. Transition is one of the most important keys to successfully rehabilitating delinquent youth. Students in juvenile justice programs generally demonstrate characteristics associated with low self-esteem; have low test scores; are behind in credits; are without educational or work related goals; and have criminal, social/behavior, and/or mental needs. If transition and conditional release services do not continue to address the needs of students as they re-enter community, school, home, and work settings, the system will fall short of its ultimate goal of successfully rehabilitating students. Any effective transition model must include various related agencies, as well as family, peer, and community resources that can potentially assist adjudicated and committed students. The current model is a holistic approach toward the transition of committed youth and calls for interaction between multiple agencies and community resources. The goal of transition is to successfully reintegrate individual students into their homes, communities, peer groups, schools, and/or work settings. A collaborative effort needs to be undertaken by program personnel, community personnel, and school district personnel in order to ensure the successful transition of the student upon discharge from the commitment program. Support systems that will assist students in the transition from commitment to community should be developed from on-site commitment program personnel, community personnel, and off-site commitment program school district personnel. Treatment team meetings are an integral component of a commitment program.