National Evaluation Program Phase 1 Summary Report - Secure Detention of Juveniles and Alternatives to Its Use (From Implementation of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 - Hearings, P 609-631, 1978 - See NCJ-79016)

• NCJ Number: 79033
• Author(s): T M Young; D M Pappenfort
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 23 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-79016.

Annotation

Findings and recommendations are summarized from a study designed to provide information on the use of alternatives to secure detention, so as to assist persons and organizations seeking to implement certain provisions of the 1974 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.

Abstract

Main components of the study involve (1) a review of literature published since 1967 on the use of secure detention and alternatives, (2) compilation of a list of existing alternative programs in the United States, and (3) site visits to 14 juvenile courts jurisdictions with alternative programs. The literature review confirmed that secure detention is misused for large numbers of youths awaiting hearing before juvenile courts. The types of alternative programs examined in site visits were home detention programs, in which youth are supervised while living in their own homes; attention homes, where small groups of youth are intensively supervised in a family-like atmosphere; programs for runaways; and private residential foster home programs. An overall conclusion is that the various program formats appear about equal in their ability to keep clients trouble-free and available for subsequent court appearances. It is recommended that criteria for selecting juveniles for secure detention, for alternative programs, and for release on the recognizance of a parent or guardian while awaiting court adjudication should be in writing. The decision on whether youths are to be placed in secure detention or an alternative program should be guided by written agreements between the responsible administrative officials, and the decision to use alternative programs should be made at initial intake. Further, an information system should be established to cross-reference significant client background information with type of preadjudication handling. Courts should adjudicate cases of juveniles waiting in alternative programs within the same period of time applicable to those in secure detention. Tabular data are provided on type and cost of various preadjudication programs and uses made of secure detention.