NCJ Number
175865
Journal
CTM (Corrections Technology & Management) Volume: 2 Issue: 10 Dated: November/December 1998 Pages: 36-38
Date Published
1998
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes programs that take a tough approach to juvenile crime while at the same time trying to rehabilitate juvenile offenders.
Abstract
An innovative Jacksonville, Florida, program puts experienced prosecutors in the juvenile division and targets perpetrators of violent crimes, carjackings, auto thefts, drug deals and constant repeat offenders. The juveniles are tried as adults and sentenced to time in the county jail (instead of a State prison), where they can be enrolled in high school courses during the day and attend behavioral courses at night. The program cannot yet be called as a complete success, but serious juvenile crime in the Jacksonville area has decreased. Maryland developed a pilot program which assigns juvenile probation officers to schools to ensure that at-risk youths are attending classes and are not involved in disruptive or criminal behavior at school. The program began 2 years ago in one trouble-plagued school and has been so successful that it has been expanded to 70 other high schools throughout the State.