NCJ Number
159707
Journal
Youth Today Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (May-June 1995) Pages: 12-14
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Youth Services International (YSI), a for-profit juvenile corrections and child welfare agency, is an example of a growing trend in the privatization of juvenile corrections.
Abstract
Nationally, more than half the States contract with profit-making corrections companies, which believe that they can build correctional facilities for 15-25 percent less and operate them at 10-15 percent less than the government can. However, these companies have been criticized for focusing on more on profit than on youth needs and for incarcerating youths far from their homes. Located in Maryland, YSI was founded by the founder of Jiffy Lube. YSI pays Maryland $1 per year to lease the campus for the Victor Cullen Academy and receives $142 per day per juvenile, compared to the $92 charged by a nonprofit Pennsylvania facility. The academy could lose its contract if it does not change. A program audit criticized the Victor Cullen Academy for not holding required daily group meetings, for lack of recordkeeping, for inadequate group leader supervisory support and training, and other deficiencies. Child abuse has been reported as well. An Iowa program has also been criticized for abuse and lack of staff training and experience. Another residential YSI program, the Hickey School, has also had problems. The YSI problems with management, line staff, and youth are typical of the field.