Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders, 'The Maryland Experience' - Statement of Rex C Smith on September 28, 1977 Concerning Implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (From Implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 - Hearin

• NCJ Number: 79020
• Author(s): R C Smith
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-79016.

Annotation

Maryland's experience with the deinstitutionalization of status offenders is described.

Abstract

In 1973, the Maryland General Assembly passed bill 1064 that called for the total deinstitutionalization of status offenders. This occurred with very little prior preparation for developing alternatives to institutionalization for status offenders currently institutionalized. Institutions housing status offenders were either closely or reduced in bed capacity. By fiscal year 1975, the institutional percentage of the budget of the Department of Juvenile Services was reduced to 40 percent, while the community services' programs percentage increased to 57 percent, roughly a reverse of the percentages in fiscal 1973. While the gap between the termination of institutionalization for status offenders and the development of community-based programs to serve these youth caused some frustration and panic, commitment to the strategy has begun to relieve many of the initial problems. In early 1975, 1 year following the impact of bill 1064, the Department of Juvenile Services canvassed its staff about the effects of the bill. While there was still a great deal of concern for children whose behavior could not be dealt with effectively in the community, there was overwhelming support for deinstitutionalization of the status offender. There is a strong conviction that all status offenders can be helped more effectively without confinement, once resources are fully committed to that end.