NCJ Number
62953
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE BRITISH GREEN PAPER ON YOUTH CUSTODY AND SUPERVISION IS CRITIQUED, MAINLY FOR FOCUSING ON WAYS OF FIXING THE INCARCERATION LENGTH WHILE IGNORING IMPROVEMENT OF NONINSTITUTIONAL SUPERVISION METHODS.
Abstract
NO EVIDENCE IS GIVEN FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN REDUCING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. INDEED, AN EXAMINATION OF THE EVIDENCE REVEALS THE REINFORCING EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION UPON DELIEQUENT BEHAVIOR. WHILE INSTITUTIONALIZATION IS NEEDED FOR SOME, MOST JUVENILE OFFENDERS WILL BENEFIT MOST FROM SUPERVISION AND COORDINATION OF SERVICES FOR THEM IN THE COMMUNITY. ALTHOUGH COMMUNITY SUPERVISION PROGRAMS HAVE NOT HAD NOTABLE SUCCESSES IN THE PAST, THIS IS DUE LARGELY TO A LIMITED COMMITMENT OF FUNDS AND A LACK OF A SUFFICIENT VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO ACCOMPLISH APPROPRIATE OFFENDER-PROGRAM MATCHING. THE COMMUNITY CAN BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED FROM SERIOUS OFFENDERS BY THE USE OF INTENSE AND RESTRICTIVE SUPERVISION BY PROBATION OFFICERS, PRESCRIBED FOR A DEFINITE PERIOD. FOR YOUTH REQUIRING INCARCERATION, SENTENCES SHOULD BE DETERMINATE ACCORDING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE OFFENSE AND LESS THAN THE LENGTH PRESCRIBED FOR AN ANALOGOUS ADULT OFFENSE. JUVENILES SHOULD BE PLACED IN INSTITUTIONS NEAR THEIR HOMES TO PERMIT FAMILY VISITS AND THE USE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE AN EXTRACT FROM A HOWARD LEAGUE PUBLICATION ON PROBATION VERSUS CUSTODY AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE PENAL REFORM ACTIVITIES OF THE HOWARD LEAGUE. (RCB)