NCJ Number
85607
Date Published
1982
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This Virginia study presents results and recommendations from a survey of criminal justice officials regarding the value and use of the '286' program permitting juvenile courts to refer juveniles directly to private and locally operated public facilities or nonresidential programs.
Abstract
Virginia enacted the code in 1976. In April 1982, 117 juvenile court judges, court service unit directors, and probation counselors in the 32 judicial districts of the State responded to a survey to determine their attitudes toward '286.' The overall response was favorable. Respondents believe it to be providing improved services to juveniles, and a majority wants to increase the number of special placements under the program. More than 75 percent of the respondents indicated that 'all,' 'most,' or 'a few' of the juveniles placed in the program would have been eligible for nonresidential community placement, which calls into question whether the money now spent on residential care is required. Noteworthy findings were that all children placed in the program would not have been committed to the Department of Corrections had the program not existed, and some children eligible for '286' have been committed to the Department of Corrections. Respondents recommended that the program use less paperwork, obtain more funding, expand services, be more flexible, include a broader range of juveniles with problems, and provide monitoring and evaluation of programs into which juveniles are placed.