NCJ Number
19912
Date Published
1974
Length
92 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT PROVIDES A NARRATIVE AND STATISTICAL OVERVIEW OF JUVENILE DETENTION PATTERNS AND PRACTICES, AND PRESENTS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF JUVENILE STATUTES, PROGRAMS, AND FACILITIES.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR FIRST DISCUSSES NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TRENDS IN THE DETENTION AND JAILING OF JUVENILES. AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE OFFENSES FOR WHICH JUVENILES ARE JAILED, THE PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF THESE JAILS AND DETENTION FACILITIES, CHARACTERISTICS OF DETAINED AND JAILED YOUTHS, FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE DECISIONS TO DETAIN YOUTHS, AND YOUTH'S VIEWS ON DETENTION IS REVIEWED. STATISTICS ON NATIONAL JAIL AND DETENTION RATES ARE PRESENTED, BASED ON THE RESULTS OF TWO LEAA CENSUSES UNDERTAKEN IN 1970 AND 1971. THE STATUTORY PROVISIONS GOVERNING JAILING AND DETENTION OF JUVENILES ARE ALSO EXAMINED. THE AUTHOR THEN PRESENTS A SUMMARY OF THE PRIMARY-SOURCE NATIONAL DATA ON DETENTION COLLECTED IN 1966 BY PAPPENFORT, KILPATRICK, AND KUBY. THIS SUMMARY IS PRESENTED IN TWO PARTS: FIRST, A DESCRIPTION OF SOME BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FACILITIES, THE DETAINEES, AND THE STAFF; SECOND, AN EXAMINATION OF HOW DETENTION UNITS FUNCTION - PROGRAMS THEY MAY OFFER, THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THE WAYS THEY MAY BE MISUSED. IN THE FINAL SECTION NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM OF JUVENILE DETENTION ARE OFFERED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)