NCJ Number
195970
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 53 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2002 Pages: 51-63
Date Published
2002
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article assesses the perceived needs and interests of juveniles held in preventive detention.
Abstract
In a study involving 70 juveniles assigned to residential units at a juvenile detention facility in St. Louis, MO, the youths were asked to complete a written questionnaire concerning their needs and interests. The areas of need most commonly cited were learning how to make better choices, learning more about computers, and learning better anger control. The juveniles expressed an interest in most activities, with residents versus staff contests, cultural diversity education, learning new board games and card games, arts and crafts, and taking care of a pet being the most popular items. The article suggests that the study be replicated at the St. Louis facility to test the generalizability of findings and reproduced at regular intervals to follow changes in detained juveniles' perceived needs and interests. Figure, tables, references, appendix