Juvenile Justice Standards - What's in It for the Kids and Us? (From American Correctional Association - Proceedings, P 201-205, 1981, Barbara Hadley Olsson and Ann Dargis, ed. - See NCJ-76771)

• NCJ Number: 76793
• Author(s): C J Kehoe
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 5 pages
• Sale Source: American Correctional Association
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Presented at the 110th Congress of Correction of the American Correctional Association (ACA), this paper discusses the composition of standards for juvenile justice services and describes ways in which standards might benefit clients and service providers.

Abstract

The development and implementation of standards have been extremely complex tasks. If standards are to be accepted by agencies and services, they must be realistic and attainable yet provide challenges for improving service delivery. Standards must also be clearly defined and measurable if their implementation is to be monitored. The standards must be subject to independent audit to determine the degree to which they are being implemented and must offer a mechanism for updating and revision. Standards can be used to promote deinstitutionalization and the diversion of status offenders, improvement of juvenile facilities and the separation of juvenile offenders from adults, improved program management techniques, and improved programming strategies. Standards which have already been established provide a broad intervention base beyond probation and aftercare; these standards can be used to promote juvenile offender rights, humane treatment (such as access to medical care), and treatment within the least restrictive environment. In addition to ensuring appropriate treatment for juvenile clients, these standards can improve the methods by which agencies are run. Standards developed by ACA and the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections are both specific and comprehensive.