NCJ Number
55758
Date Published
1974
Length
162 pages
Annotation
PRESENTATIONS AT A CONFERENCE AT MIAMI BEACH, FLA., ON MAY 16 AND 17, 1974 REPORT THE RANGE OF DIVERSIONARY AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS WHICH USE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
Abstract
AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES IS PRESENTED, AND MAIN DIRECTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE PROPOSED. ANOTHER PRESENTATION CONSIDERS THAT MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SERVICES FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS HAVE BEEN SO INEFFECTIVE THAT ATTEMPTS AT LARGE-SCALE TREATMENT OF ALL JUVENILES CONTACTING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE UNREALISTIC. A NARROWING OF INTENSIVE TREATMENT TO SERIOUS JUVENILE OFFENDERS IS SUGGESTED. A LAWYER ARGUES THAT JUVENILE OFFENDERS HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO TREATMENT WITHIN THE JUVENILE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM. THIS REQUIRES NOT ONLY THAT TREATMENT BE CONDUCTED WITHIN A REHABILITATIVE ENVIRONMENT WITH EFFECTIVE MODALITIES, BUT THAT JUVENILES NOT BE KEPT UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE JUVENILE SYSTEM BEYOND THE TIME WHEN THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT OF THE TREATMENT AVAILABLE. PROCEDURES FOR COST-BENEFIT STUDIES AND EVALUATIONS ARE EXAMINED WITH RESPECT TO COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS PERFORMED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE JUVENILE COURTS. ALSO, THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON THE COMMUNITY SYSTEMS WHOSE DISORDER AND FAULTY APPROACHES IN RELATING TO JUVENILES MAY CONTRIBUTE TO DELINQUENCY IS EXAMINED. AN INTERIM REPORT IS PROVIDED ON THE RANGE OF SERVICES TO JUVENILE OFFENDERS DELIVERED BY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH. A PILOT PROGRAM FOR 'HARD CORE' DELINQUENTS IN DENVER, COLO., IS ALSO DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH A DRUG ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FLA., COMMUNITY-BASED GROUP TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN FLORIDA, AND OKLAHOMA'S PROGRAM FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS. THE GROWING PROBLEM OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG JUVENILES IS CONSIDERED, TOGETHER WITH ITS IMPACT ON JUVENILE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. FOR INDIVIDUAL PAPERS, SEE NCJ 55759-55770. (RCB)