NCJ Number
61244
Date Published
1976
Length
248 pages
Annotation
THE CAMP HILL PROJECT (CHP), WHICH PROVIDES ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION FOR SERIOUS JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN PENNSYLVANIA, IS EVALUATED DURING ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION IN 1976.
Abstract
DATA WERE GATHERED THROUGH INTERVIEWS OF STAFFS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS THROUGH PROJECT-GENERATED DOCUMENTS. IN 1974, ABOUT 4,000 OF 95,000 JUVENILE OFFENDERS WERE IMPRISONED IN SPECIAL FACILITIES AT CAMP HILL, PA. HOWEVER, NO REHABILITATION SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE, AND IMPRISONING JUVENILES AT CAMP HILL VIOLATED PENNSYLVANIA JUVENILE PENAL LAW. THE FACILITY WAS CLOSED TO YOUTH IN AUGUST 1975, AND THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES, INC., (CCA) WAS SET UP TO DESIGN PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILES AT CAMP HALL. PURCHASING SERVICES FROM PRIVATE GROUPS, THE CCA DESIGNED A NETWORK CONTAINING MAXIMUM SECURITY UNITS, WELL-SUPERVISED RESIDENTIAL CENTERS, ADVOCACY AND FOSTER CARE, WILDERNESS RETREATS, AND THERAPY AS NEEDED. ACCORDING TO CCA REVIEW PANEL, CCA HAD SEVERE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND MANAGED MONEY AND PROGRAMS POORLY. MUCH ADMINISTRATIVE WORK WAS NOT DONE, AND SECURE FACILITIES WERE NOT PROVIDED. ALTHOUGH CCA STAFF IS DEVOTED AND INDUSTRIOUS, AND MOST CAMP HILL YOUTHS HAVE BEEN RELOCATED (42 PERCENT BY CCA), CCA EFFORTS WERE HURT BY POOR RELATIONS WITH JUDGES AND OTHERS, AND BY GREAT TIME PRESSURE. DISCUSSION IS INCLUDED ON CCA PROJECT FINANCES AND EXPENSES. FOOTNOTES AND CHARTS ARE PROVIDED; APPENDIXES CONTAIN A LIST OF SOURCE MATERIAL, VARIOUS REPORTS ON THE CCA AND ITS SERVICE GROUPS, AND INFORMATION ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND PROGRAMS. (PAP)