NCJ Number
44931
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
JUVENILES' RIGHT TO TREATMENT, COMMON FORMS OF TREATMENT, PROBLEMS WITH THESE FORMS, AND OBJECTIONS TO PSYCHIATRIC INTERVENTION ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS SERIES OF SPEECHES.
Abstract
SOME JUVENILES CAN BE HELPED BY COMMUNITY CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT, BUT OTHERS HAVE PROBLEMS WHICH REQUIRE INSTITUTIONALIZATION. IT IS VERY HARD TO DETERMINE WHICH JUVENILE SHOULD BE GIVEN WHAT TREATMENT. THE COURTS ARE RECOGNIZING THE RIGHT TO TREATMENT FOR JUVENILES, BUT THE PROMISE OF TREATMENT IS VERY OFTEN UNFULFILLED. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY JUDICIAL DECISIONS QUESTIONING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF PLACES OF CONFINEMENT AND COMMITMENT. IN SOME OF THESE CASES, THE LACK OF TREATMENT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT. SEGREGATION ON THE BASIS OF SUSPECTED HOMOSEXUALITY; FAILURE TO ENCOURAGE A JUVENILE'S FAMILY TO PARTICIPATE IN HIS REHABILITATION; FAILURE TO PROVIDE CASEWORK, NURSING, OR PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES; FAILURE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO AN OMBUDSMAN; FAILURE TO PROVIDE 24-HOUR-PER-DAY MEDICAL CARE; AND EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL LIKELY TO PHYSICALLY OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABUSE CHILDREN IN CARE ARE ALL PRACTICES WHICH DENY JUVENILES THE RIGHT TO TREATMENT. THIS RIGHT INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS. WHEN THE STATE IS ACTING IN PLACE OF THE PARENTS, IT SHOULD ASSUME THE DUTIES OF THE PARENT, AND THE TREATMENT SHOULD BE WHAT THE PARENTS NORMALLY WOULD DO. ONE KIND OF TREATMENT WHICH IS THERAPEUTIC IN CONCEPT, BUT DUE TO LIMITED RESOURCES, DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK, IS SOCIAL CASEWORK. FLEXIBILITY IS REQUIRED TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH CASE. GROUP WORK CAN BE USED TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR OF THE JUVENILE. THE METHODS USED IN THIS THERAPY DEPEND ON THE PURPOSE, SETTING, STRATEGY, AND CLIENTS. BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION THEORIES ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. THESE CLAIM THAT ALL BEHAVIOR IS GOVERNED BY ITS CONSEQUENCES. REALITY THERAPY IS A TYPE OF TREATMENT WHICH CENTERS ON TWO NEEDS: THE NEED TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED. OBJECTIONS TO PSYCHIATRIC INTERVENTION STATE THAT THE SOCIAL SCIENCES DO NOT REALLY GET AT THE CAUSE OF DELINQUENCY; THE DIAGNOSIS IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON. MANY PSYCHOLOGISTS CLAIM THAT NO JUVENILE CAN BE JUDGED HEALTHY, THEREFORE, THEY ALL SHOULD RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF TREATMENT. (BAC)