NCJ Number
132100
Journal
Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1990) Pages: 33-37
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Juvenile reform schools in Ohio are described with emphasis on that State as a representative example of current conditions and on the crucial role of education in general as well as special education programs in rehabilitating these youth.
Abstract
Currently 1,800 adolescents reside in Ohio reform schools, which are overcrowded and focused on control rather than treatment and rehabilitation. In contrast, juvenile justice reform in Utah has sharply reduced the secure placement of youths and the development of an effective network of community placements for most troubled youth. The increasing numbers of disadvantaged, disruptive, and educationally needy children show the need for national education reform to complement juvenile justice reform. Needed reforms include school leadership to reduce the number of dropouts, suspensions, and expulsions; handling of truancy as a school-related problem and not just a symptom of social problems that the school cannot control; advocacy for juveniles who enter the juvenile justice system; improved teacher training; and increased remedial and compensatory programs in regular classrooms. Special educators are in a good position to lead the educational reforms and should advocate a noncategorical approach to services based on the learning needs of all students and not just those labeled as handicapped. 5 references