NCJ Number
95108
Editor(s)
R. A. Mathias,
P DeMuro,
R S Allinson
Date Published
1984
Length
398 pages
Annotation
Focusing on the work of the Violent Juvenile Offender Program (VJO), the anthology examines the extent and causes of violent juvenile crime, system responses, treatment intervention models, and practical issues in programs for violent juvenile offenders.
Abstract
An analysis of recent national trends shows that serious juvenile crime seems to have peaked in the mid-1970's and that current punitive legislation may be a response to a crisis that no longer exists. The definition of 'violent juvenile offender' is considered, and theories about the origins of delinquency and violence are critically examined. One study highlights the neuropsychiatric and experiential correlates of homicidally aggressive young children, while another presents an empirical portrait of the violent juvenile offender. Three chapters look at system responses to violent juvenile crime, examining juvenile court, corrections and mental health services, with special attention paid to New York and Massachusetts. A survey of treatment intervention models for violent juvenile offenders discusses basic elements to be considered in developing appropriate alternative placements for violent offenders, using the VJO Community Reintegration Model and the House of Umoja in Philadelphia as examples. Finally, ideas and techniques of practitioners who work with violent juveniles in both VJO and non-VJO programs are presented. Information is given on continuous case managment with violent juvenile offenders, the educational component of VJO's Memphis project, and practical benefits of working with violent juvenile offenders within a therapeutic community. Special attention is directed to the Closed Adolescent Treatment Center (CATC) in Denver, VJO's Phoenix project, and the Robert F. Kennedy School in Massachusetts. A detailed description of New Pride, Inc., in Denver explores practical issues in vocational education for serious juvenile offenders. A look at the CATC's sex-offender program portrays a comprehensive method for treating the adolescent sex offender which has yielded positive results. The final chapter argues for a community reintegrative approach in all phases of programs dealing with institutionalized juveniles. The epilogue examines some current trends for dealing with violent juvenile crime and proposes some alternative approaches for program and research efforts. Tables, charts, and chapter footnotes and references are provided. For separate articles, see NCJ 95164-81.