NCJ Number
153929
Editor(s)
L Aktinson,
S A Gerull
Date Published
1994
Length
220 pages
Annotation
Papers from Australia's National Conference on Juvenile Detention, held August 10-13, 1993, examine policies and patterns of juvenile detention in Australia and discuss alternative policies.
Abstract
An overview of juvenile detention in Australia highlights the need for a more comprehensive national database on juveniles held in detention and for greater accountability in relation to the holding of juveniles in detention centers, adult prisons, and police custody. The second paper profiles the detained juvenile population in New South Wales and includes information on the ethnicity, offense record, and penalties incurred by detainees. A third paper addresses the management of various cultural groups in juvenile detention centers in New South Wales. It notes the need for comprehensive knowledge about young offenders and the offenses they have committed, such that detention center programs target their needs. Another paper focuses on the introduction of unit-management policies and procedures in Victorian detention centers. It presents as a model an integrated structure with well-defined loci of responsibility and clear lines of accountability. A paper reviews the current legislation and sentencing practices in relation to secure custody in New Zealand, followed by a paper that contrasts juvenile justice systems in New Zealand before and after the introduction of the 1989 Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act. Other papers argue for a different perspective on juvenile detention, i.e., as a "new beginning" rather than a "last resort." In the context of viewing detention as an occasion for rehabilitation, topics discussed include case management, attention to the needs of female detainees, literacy standards and practices in detention centers, vocational education and training, and mental health services. References and a subject index