MASSACHUSETTS - THE LEGACY OF JEROME MILLER

• NCJ Number: 51196
• Journal: Corrections Magazine Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 12-18
• Author(s): R WILSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE HISTORY AND POLITICS OF MASSACHUSETTS' COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF JUVENILE SECURE INSTITUTIONS (1970-1976) AND THE MOVEMENTS TO REINSTITUTE SECURE FACILITIES ARE TRACED. A CASE STUDY OF A COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITY IS GIVEN.

Abstract

MASSACHUSETTS WAS THE BELLWETHER OF THE MOVEMENT TO KEEP JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN THE COMMUNITY. UNDER DR. JEROME MILLER, WHO BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES IN 1970, A MASSIVE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION PROGRAM BEGAN. BY 1973 ONLY 50 JUVENILES WERE IN SECURE FACILITIES. THE CRITICISMS THIS DRASTIC REFORM EFFORT ENGENDERED ARE TRACED, TOGETHER WITH LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL EFFORTS TO REINSTATE TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE PROBLEM THIS MASSIVE, IMMEDIATE REFORM CAUSED ARE ALSO EXAMINED. MOST OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITIES WERE OPERATED BY PRIVATE AGENCIES UNDER CONTRACT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS. MANY TIMES THESE FACILITIES WERE NO BETTER THAN THE SECURE DETENTION INSTITUTIONS THEY REPLACED. ALSO, THE SUDDEN SHIFT IN EMPHASIS LED TO RECORDKEEPING PROBLEMS; AT ONE POINT, THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES COULD NOT TELL THE EXACT LOCATION OF MANY OF ITS JUVENILES. WHEN JOHN CALHOUN BECAME DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT IN 1976 HE COMMISSIONED A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE NEED FOR SECURE FACILITIES. THIS GROUP CONCLUDED THAT ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF YOUTHS WERE 'PRESUMPTIVELY ELIGIBLE' FOR SUCH PLACEMENT, WHICH MEANT THE NUMBER IN SUCH DETENTION SHOULD BE ABOUT 200, INSTEAD OF THE 70 THEN SO INCARCERATED. EFFORTS TO MEET THIS NEED, TO MAKE PRIVATE AGENCIES MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITIES ARE DETAILED. THE ARTICLE ALSO REVIEWS THE HARVARD EVALUATION WHICH FINDS RECIDIVISM RATES HIGHER UNDER THE COMMUNITY-BASED SYSTEM (55 PERCENT IN 1974 COMPARED TO 47 PERCENT IN 1968). A CASE STUDY OF A SOUTH BOSTON FACILITY WHICH THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT IS ALSO GIVEN. THE PROBLEM OF FINDING LOCATIONS FOR COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IS EXAMINED. (GLR)