NCJ Number
68345
Date Published
1977
Length
34 pages
Annotation
AN LEAA-FUNDED STUDY FOCUSING ON IOWA'S EXPERIENCE IN DEINSTITUTIONALIZING JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS IS PRESENTED; LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, SERVICE NEEDS, AND SERVICE DELIVERY ARE ADDRESSED.
Abstract
IN 1975, THE STATE OF IOWA BEGAN PARTICIPATING IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT, AND IN THE SAME YEAR IT AMENDED THE IOWA CODE TO REMOVE STATUS OFFENDERS FROM THE DELINQUENCY CATEGORY AND DESIGNATE THEM AS CHILDREN IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. STATUS OFFENDERS WERE ALSO DEINSTITUTIONALIZED FROM THE STATE TRAINING SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, MORE THAN 70 CHILDREN WERE RELEASED FROM DETENTION HOMES AND JAILS. FOR THIS STUDY, QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO YOUTH IN THE STATE. INFORMATION INCLUDED A DESCRIPTION OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE STATUS OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, THE SERVICES, AND NEEDS REGARDING STATUS OFFENDERS, COST INFORMATION, AND DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION'S IMPACT ON THE STATE. DATA ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT, AS A RESULT OF LEGISLATIVE REFORM, ALMOST 75 PERCENT OF THE STATUS OFFENDER CASES REPORTED DURING 1976 WERE DIVERTED PRIOR TO PETITION FILING. THE RATE OF DETENTION FOR JUVENILES DECREASED. IN 1976, THE STATUS OFFENSE CATEGORY USED MOST OFTEN WAS FOR POSSESSING OR DRINKING ALCOHOL. OTHER MAJOR OFFENSE CATEGORIES INCLUDED UNGOVERNABLE BEHAVIOR AND VIOLATION OF CURFEW. IOWA, UNLIKE MANY STATES, APPEARS TO BE IN A GOOD POSITION TO RESPOND TO THE SERVICE NEEDS OF STATUS OFFENDERS. NEVERTHELESS, SERVICES COULD BE IMPROVED WITH RESPECT TO IN-HOME SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS PLACED IN FAMILY CUSTODY, COORDINATION OF SERVICES, AND IMPROVED DATA COLLECTION METHODS TO ADEQUATELY REFLECT THE STATUS OFFENDER POPULATION. OBSTACLES TO THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION CONCEPT IN THE STATE INCLUDE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE PART OF LOCAL AGENCY PERSONNEL REGARDING LEAA REQUIREMENTS, AND THE FACT THAT STATUS OFFENDERS ARE STILL PLACED IN SECURE FACILITIES. FOOTNOTES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY.