NCJ Number
86684
Date Published
1981
Length
149 pages
Annotation
Witnesses critically discussed the programs and problems of the California Youth Authority (CYA), with attention to its parole policies, security practices, staff training, and intensive treatment programs.
Abstract
The first witness, a retired official of the CYA, severely criticized the agency, commenting that it had veered away from its original goal of protecting society and was now organized for the treatment of neglected, middle-class children. A representative of the CYA parole officers focused on parole decisions, early releases, time cuts, and recidivism criteria. He noted that CYA parolees average 20.6 years and frequently have committed felonies, but parole boards often have inadequate information about an offender's dangerousness. Other parole agents recounted their experiences with offenders, frequently criticizing the CYA's policies. Security concerns within CYA institutions were addressed, including inadequate controls over day passes, assaults on staff, and overcrowding. An experienced parole agent, who had also been a police and correctional officer, spoke of his concerns about the inadequate training for CYA officers, irrelevant training offered by the agency, and poor personnel selection practices. A younger parole agent confirmed this testimony and commented on promotion policies. A worker from the Southern Reception Center and Clinic described problems at that facility, calling the Disciplinary Decision Making System of the CYA a farce. This system and its inadequacies were reviewed in greater detail by another parole agent. The last witnesses discussed low morale among CYA employees and the quality of the intensive treatment programs.