NCJ Number
49718
Date Published
1978
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THE PURPOSES OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS, ASPECTS OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS, AND THE ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN DEALING WITH JUVENILES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE VIEW THAT BEHAVIOR CANNOT BE CHANGED AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT SOCIETY FROM CRIME IS THROUGH PUNITIVE, REGRESSIVE PROGRAMS IS CRITICIZED, AS IS THE EMPHASIS WITHIN THE JUVENILE CORRECTION SYSTEM UPON INSTITUTIONALIZATION. IT HAS NOT BEEN SHOWN SCIENTIFICALLY THAT POSITIVE PROGRAMS HAVE NO MEANINGFUL EFFECT ON BEHAVIOR. IN ADDITION, POSITIVE CONCEPTS OFTEN ARE IMPLEMENTED IN A HALFHEARTED MANNER AND THEN JUDGED INEFFECTIVE. A 'GET-TOUGH' ATTITUDE TOWARD JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS SAID TO REFLECT AN UNWILLINGNESS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN POSITIVE APPROACHES. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEMAND FOR INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE NOTED, AND THE EFFECTS OF IMPRISONMENT ON JUVENILES ARE DISCUSSED. THE BENEFITS OF PREVENTIVE SERVICES, PROBATION, AND PROGRAMS USING VOLUNTEERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS ARE POINTED OUT. WHEN INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS IS A NECESSITY, PLACEMENT SHOULD BE GEARED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE OFFENDER AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, DECENTRALIZATION OF THE LARGE, MASS-CUSTODY INSTITUTIONS IS URGED. PRINCIPLES ON WHICH POLICE OFFICERS CAN BASE CRITERIA FOR ARRESTING AND DETAINING JUVENILES ARE SUGGESTED, WITH A VIEW TO LIMITING THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH JUVENILES ARE JAILED. GUIDELINES TO ASSIST POLICE OFFICERS IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH YOUTHS ARE OUTLINED. (LKM)