This evaluation focuses on the history of Vermont's deinstitutionalization process and assesses whether the drawbacks of institutional care for juvenile offenders have been corrected by alternative programs.
Professional consultants visited the juvenile services project (JSP) for 2 days in June 1980 to interview administrative officials, caseworkers, staffs of individual residential projects, and juveniles in these programs. Reorganization of Vermont's juvenile services was prompted by four major problems: the sole institution for youthful offenders, the Weeks School, was ineffective and costly; no coordinated system of case planning and management for juveniles existed; there were few alternatives to institutionalization at Weeks; and responsibility for adjudicated youth was divided between the department of social and rehabilitative services and the department of corrections. Efforts to reduce the Weeks School population began in the early 1970's, and the institution was finally closed in 1979. In 1978, the State legislature placed responsibility for all programs and services for offenders and unmanageable youth in the JSP as part of the department of social and rehabilitative services. The organization, programs, and case planning system of the JSP are described. Alternative programs include a secure detention unit of eight beds, a wilderness education camp, juvenile service centers, group homes, and foster homes. The evaluation concluded that a broad, diversified range of programs for juvenile offenders is now being funded and that procedures have been established to insure good recordkeekping and accountability for client progress. However, documentation on the program's progress is inadequate, evaluations have been delayed, and no facility for emotionally disturbed youths exists. Tables are included. The appendixes contain letters supporting the project, JSP report, a policy statement from Vermont's Commissioner of Social and Rehabilitative Services, and an inventory of services for juveniles.