NCJ Number
162018
Date Published
1995
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This report explains the goals and programs of the Wisconsin Division of Youth Services (DYS) and the youth served from 1992 through 1994.
Abstract
DYS support and assists public and private agencies in developing a range of community services for juvenile delinquents and status offenders, provides care and treatment of adjudicated delinquents in secure juvenile correctional institutions, and provides aftercare services to released adjudicated delinquents. Arrests of juveniles for violent offenses increased from 2,003 in 1991 to 2,674 in 1994. The State operated three secure juvenile correctional facilities. Forty-one percent of the 803 males in juvenile correctional institutions on June 30, 1994 had committed crimes against the person. The majority had drug abuse problems. Many met criteria for having serious mental illness. Many were fathers. Seventy percent were 2 or more years behind academically, and a high percentage were functioning 4-5 years behind their peers in reading and mathematics. Fifty-three percent of the 74 females in a juvenile correctional facility on December 31, 1994 had committed an offense against persons. Almost all had been a variety of residential placements throughout the State. Ninety percent had been victims of physical and sexual abuse. All had been sexually active; 14 had at least one child. They averaged 4 years behind their peers academically. State aftercare programs served 1,118 youths in 1994. Tables, figures, and photographs