NCJ Number
166484
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1996) Pages: 70,72-73
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
After reviewing national trends in juvenile violence, this article describes steps in planning and operating a secure juvenile facility for violent offenders.
Abstract
The proportion of young offenders who can be defined as chronic, violent, and habitual is relatively small among the young offender population; however, this population is growing disproportionately. States must find new solutions for housing habitually violent young offenders, because there is a growing recognition that juvenile training schools and crowded adult institutions are not appropriate for them. The first step in developing a high-security juvenile facility is defining the facility mission and profile characteristics of the population to be served. This should be done during the operational planning phase. Before architectural programming and design is initiated, planning teams must understand operations and daily routines, programs and services, staffing patterns, and behavioral management techniques. Structured treatment programming aimed at rehabilitation can be achieved in a secure setting. High-security juvenile facilities should be designed to prevent residents from coming and going as they please, to optimize staff ability to supervise residents, and to create opportunities for staff to interact positively with youth. Facilities for chronic, habitual offenders will cost more to construct than juvenile training schools. Operational costs will be similar to juvenile training schools, which have high staff-to-resident ratios. It is important to link aftercare with the facility operation, so that family and community bonds are strengthened during the incarceration period.