COORDINATION OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION: 'IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE'

• NCJ Number: 57443
• Journal: PRISON LAW MONITOR Volume: 1 Issue: 5 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 118-121
• Author(s): R J MESSALLE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Institution Educational Services, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COORDINATING COUNCIL ON JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION TO DEVELOP AND COORDINATE EFFECTIVE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS.

Abstract

HISTORICALLY, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES HAVE BEEN FRAGMENTED IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE JUVENILE PROGRAMS. ATTEMPTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COORDINATE ITS OWN INVOLVEMENT IN JUVENILE PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. LACK OF COORDINATION HAS INTERFERED GREATLY IN EFFORTS TO PROVIDE JUVENILES WITH NECESSARY SERVICES AND TO FIND ALTERNATIVES TO THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF INCARCERATION. PART OF THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE RANGE AND SPECIALIZATION OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES INVOLVED. A TOTAL OF 23 FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER THESE JUVENILES, AND THESE AGENCIES ARE FURTHER DIVIDED INTO BRANCHES TOTALING MORE THAN 100. THE ARRAY OF STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES IS EVEN MORE CONFUSED. ALTHOUGH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT WAS PASSED 4 YEARS AGO, STATES STILL HAVE NOT DEVELOPED SYSTEMS FOR COMPLIANCE WITH DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION DIRECTIVES. STATE PUBLIC SUPPORT SYSTEMS DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO COORDINATE CHILD WELFARE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS, MAKING COMPLIANCE INADEQUATE. LACK OF CONTROLLING INTEREST BY ANY ONE FEDERAL AGENCY HAS RESULTED IN VIRTUALLY NO MONITORING OF FUNDS, POLICIES, OR PRACTICES. TOO OFTEN, THE RESULT IS THAT CHILDREN ARE HELPLESS AND ALONE IN A TANGLED SYSTEM. EXPERTS AGREE THAT INSTITUTIONALIZATION OFTEN DAMAGES THE LIVES OF CHILDREN BEYOND REPAIR. THERE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT DOCUMENTATION OF THE HIGH RATES OF RECIDIVISM AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED INCARCERATION. TO EFFECTIVELY BRING ABOUT DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, AN EXAMINATION OF THE CONTRADICTIONS AND LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POLICY AND ACTUAL PRACTICES SHOULD BE CONDUCTED AND PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC. THIS SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH OPEN CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS WHICH WOULD ALLOW PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES TO PARTICIPIPATE AND HAVE A VOICE IN EXPOSING THE NATIONAL RANGE AND DEPTH OF THE PROBLEM. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)