NCJ Number
129622
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: special issue (April 1991) Pages: 204-224
Date Published
1991
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Many of juvenile justice's problems can be traced to the 19th century when parens patriae programs and facilities were established with little attention to their influence upon one another.
Abstract
As newer programs for status offenders were initiated, older centers received primarily hardened delinquents and adopted more punitive policies. Without guidance or understanding, entire systems grew punitive. There exists a straightforward solution to this criminalizing of juvenile justice. A permanent State agency can be created with responsibility for treatment programs both in juvenile institutions and in the community. Preferable are small facilities limited to 15-20 beds that focus on narrow segments of the delinquent population. These State departments of treatment services for delinquents require research branches to evaluate their programs to provide a basis for disbanding those programs that prove ineffective. 10 notes and 61 references (Author abstract modified)