NCJ Number
94486
Date Published
1983
Length
202 pages
Annotation
This hearing examines ongoing State efforts to provide for the deinstitutionalization of juvenile nonoffenders.
Abstract
The hearing focuses on bills to remove juvenile nonoffenders from secure detention, treatment, and correctional facilities and to remove juveniles from adult jails and lockups. An investigation into State-run juvenile institutions in Oklahoma uncovered abysmal administrative practices and widespread abuse. Many of the children were there because of status offenses or because they had been abandoned, neglected or abused by their families. Jailing hardens status offenders and increases the likelihood of their committing future criminal offenses. The removeal of children from secure institutions has been one of the most successful juvenile justice policy thrusts of the 1970's, leading to a reduction in admissions to detention centers, especially among females. States that have enacted programs prohibiting detention of troubled children have succeeded in reducing their juvenile court backlogs. Witnesses included experts and officials in State child welfare and juvenile justice systems, as well as parents of status offenders and a status offender. There were nine witnesses altogether. The transcript includes a copy of S. 520 and seven appendixes.