NCJ Number
58885
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 318-334
Date Published
1979
Length
17 pages
Annotation
A SERIES OF LIFE STUDIES OF INCARCERATED CHILDREN IS PRESENTED, WITH A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF POSSIBILITIES FOR REFORM.
Abstract
THE FORMAT OF THE PRESENTATION ALLOWS THOSE INTERVIEWED TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF JAIL AND THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING INCARCERATED. SOME YOUTHS HAVE BEEN TRIED AND SENTENCED TO JAIL; OTHERS WERE CONFINED IN DETENTION CENTERS AWAITING TRIAL; ONE GIRL WAS HELD ILLEGALLY IN A COUNTY JAIL WITH ADULT WOMEN. AMONG THE MANY TOPICS DISCUSSED BY THE PEOPLE ARE MEDICAL TREATMENT, THE LACK OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, THE CHANGING NATURE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PARENTS, THE SHAME AND FRIGHT OF IMPRISONMENT, AND THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF BEING IN JAIL. IN REPORTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION, A STUDY COMPLETED BY THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND OF THE WASHINGTON RESEARCH PROJECT IN 1976 FOUND THAT MORE THAN 600,000 AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE IN JAIL. MOST JAILED YOUTH ARE WHITE BOYS, ALTHOUGH A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF JUVENILE INMATES ARE OF MINORITY GROUPS. MOST OF THE SUBJECTS INVOLVED IN THE DEFENSE FUND STUDY WERE JAILED FOR COMMITTING PROPERTY OFFENSES AND FOR MINOR BEHAVIORAL VIOLATIONS. MORE THAN 15 PERCENT WERE JAILED FOR STATUS OFFENSES. CASES WERE FOUND OF YOUTH BEING KEPT IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY FOR AS LONG AS FIVE YEARS. ANY BELIEF THAT INCARCERATION REHABILITATES IS DISPELLED BY CASE STUDIES. THE AUTHOR REPORTS THAT MOST OF THE CASES WITH WHICH HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED HAVE REVEALED YOUTH WHO WERE DEEPLY HURT BY SERVING EXTENDED JAIL TERMS. YEARS AFTER A PERSON'S RELEASE, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS RESULTING FROM INCARCERATION STILL MAY BE DETECTED. ANY BENEFIT THAT MAY BE ALLEGED FOR THE INCARCERATION OF JUVENILES IS FAR OUTWEIGHED BY THE CRIMINALIZING AND DESTRUCTIVE IMPACTS OF IMPRISONMENT. JUVENILE COURTS CAN PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN JAIL REFORM BY REFUSING TO ORDER JAIL DETENTION IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CHILDREN. THEIR INSISTENCE ON PROTECTING SUCH RIGHTS WOULD DO MUCH TO FORCE THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES OF STATE GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO JAIL INCARCERATION OF CHILDREN. (RCB)