NCJ Number
32289
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1975) Pages: 29-40
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE MAJOR CONTROVERSY OVER THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS IS NO LONGER THE FACT THAT THEY WERE CLOSED, BUT THE WAY IT WAS DONE: THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE TACTICS OF DR. JEROME MILLER.
Abstract
THE ACTIONS OF DR. MILLER, THEN COMMISSIONER OF MASSACHUSETTS' DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES, ARE DESCRIBED FROM HIS START IN OFFICE IN OCTOBER, 1969 TO HIS RESIGNATION IN JANUARY, 1973. ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT ORIGINALLY HAVE THE INTENTION OF CLOSING DOWN ALL OF THE JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, HE SOON BECAME FRUSTRATED WITH THE RESISTANCE TO CHANGE HE ENCOUNTERED. THIS FRUSTRATION LED HIM TO THE CONCLUSION THAT INSTITUTIONS ARE INHERENTLY BRUTAL AND INCAPABLE OF HELPING DELINQUENT YOUTHS: HE BELIEVED THAT BOTH YOUTHS AND SOCIETY WOULD BE JUST AS WELL SERVED IF THE YOUTHS WERE SIMPLY ALLOWED TO GO FREE. HE WAS CRITICIZED FOR HIS ALLEGEDLY SENSATIONAL TACTICS OF PERSONALLY HELPING YOUTHS TO SLEDGEHAMMER THE BARS OF A DENTION CELL AND FOR EVACUATING YOUTHS FROM ONE INSTITUTION WITH THE AIDE OF A MOTORCADE FORMED BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. OTHER CHARGES OF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MISMANAGEMENT ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. SEE ALSO NCJ-32285, 32286, 32287, AND 32288.