NCJ Number
50726
Journal
California Youth Authority Quarterly Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1978) Pages: 23-27
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., NEWSPAPER ARTICLE COMMENTING ON FACILITIES AND TREATMENT METHODS AT THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY'S NORTHERN CALIFORNIA YOUTH CENTER (NCYC) IS REPRINTED.
Abstract
THE ARTICLE OPENS WITH A DESCRIPTION OF CONDITIONS AT NCYC, WHICH IS SAID TO LOOK MORE LIKE A CAMPUS THAN A PRISON. THE STAFF'S INSISTENCE ON REFERRING TO INMATES, JAILS, AND CELLS AS WARDS, SCHOOLS, AND ROOMS IS NOTED. THE YOUTH AUTHORITY DIRECTOR POINTS OUT THAT THE CAREFULLY CHOSEN WORDS ARE A WAY OF NOT LABELING YOUNG PEOPLE AS CRIMINALS. EACH OF THE THREE SCHOOLS AT NCYC IS SAID TO HAVE ITS OWN APPROACH TO REHABILITATION AND TRAINING. THE KARL HOLTON SCHOOL FOCUSES ON ACADEMIC EDUCATION AND ON BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION THROUGH A REWARD AND DEMERIT SYSTEM. THE POPULATION AT O.H. CLOSE SCHOOL IS YOUNGER, BOTH CHRONOLOGICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, THAN THAT AT HOLTON. HERE, TOO, EMPHASIS IS ON CLASSROOM EDUCATION, BUT THE BOYS LIVE AND STUDY IN SEPARATE GROUPS OF 50 THROUGHOUT THEIR STAY. COUNSELING EMPHASIZES TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS. THE THIRD SCHOOL, DEWITT NELSON, OFFERS VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO OLDER YOUTHS. CASE EXAMPLES OF YOUTHS WHOSE PROGRESS ILLUSTRATES WHAT THE SCHOOLS CAN ACHIEVE ARE CITED. COMMENTS BY YOUTH AUTHORITY STAFF ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THEIR WARDS AND ON THE AUTHORITY'S TREATMENT TECHNIQUES ARE QUOTED. THE ARTICLE CONCLUDES WITH THE OBSERVATION THAT 57 PERCENT OF THE YOUTH AUTHORITY'S PAROLEES STAY ARREST-FREE FOR 2 YEARS, AND 25 PERCENT REMAIN ARREST-FREE FOR 5 YEARS. (LKM)