NCJ Number
80730
Date Published
1979
Length
33 pages
Annotation
Factors associated with revocations (readmission to a residential school because of a violation of the terms of conditional or temporary conditional release) to the South Carolina Department of Youth Services (DYS) are examined.
Abstract
Data for the analysis were derived from a population of 86 clients who accounted for some 100 revocations over 1 year, beginning in March 1978. Findings show that more than two-thirds of the revocations resulted from status offenses or placement maladjustment. Serious criminal charges accounted for only about one-fifth of the revocations. Generally, clients were revoked shortly after release, with about one-third returning to DYS within 2 months of conditional release and about half returning within 4 months. A separate issue highlighted by the case histories presented is the continued presence in DYS residential schools of children who were revoked because of inadequate placement. These youths have remained in DYS custody for periods sometimes exceeding 1 month awaiting a formal hearing, a formal revocation, or some kind of determination that their case is one of placement failure. It is apparent that the DYS and Juvenile Placement and Aftercare might be more effective in the prevention of revocations by examining the adequacy of institutional programs designed to prepare clients for community reentry and the adequacy of followup services provided after discharge to facilitate a smooth transition from institutional to community living. Further, a process for dealing with placement failure that does not require further incarceration should be developed. Tabular data are provided, and a conditional release agreement is appended. (Author summary modified)