U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

CLOSING DOWN THE INSTITUTIONS - RADICAL CHANGES IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONS

NCJ Number
62693
Journal
TEXAS JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONS Volume: 5 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 16-19,24
Author(s)
D HIGHTOWER
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE CLOSING OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND TEXAS RESULTED IN RADICAL CHANGE TO JUVENILE JUSTICE IN THOSE STATES.
Abstract
THE CLOSING OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN MASSACHUSETTS CAME FROM REFORM WITHIN THE SYSTEM INITIATED BY A NEW ADMINISTRATOR, WHILE REFORMS IN TEXAS WERE MANDATED BY COURT ORDER, BASED ON ALLEGATIONS MADE BY A PRIVATE ATTORNEY AND THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. BY LIBERAL USE OF PAROLE AND TRANSFER, THE TWO INSTITUTIONS HOUSING MASSACHUSETTS' MOST DISTURBED AND REBELLIOUS CHILDREN WERE CLOSED IN 1971. CUSTODIAL CARE WAS MINIMIZED, AND THE STATE SUBSTITUTED COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS FOR INSTITUTIONAL CARE. THE 1974 LANDMARK DECISION FOR REFORM IN TEXAS RESULTED IN A TOTAL UPHEAVAL OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS. THE CONTROVERSIAL ORDER REDUCED INMATE POPULATION BY MORE THAN HALF, YET PROBLEMS WITH FINANCE, PERSONNEL, COURT JUDGES, AND LEGISLATURES HAVE HAMPERED COMPLIANCE WITH THE COURT ORDER. BOTH STATE SYSTEMS ARE FUNCTIONING, HOWEVER, AND HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REDUCED THEIR JUVENILE INMATE POPULATIONS. NEITHER STATE HAS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR ITS MORE VIOLENTLY AGGRESSIVE YOUTH, AND IT IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED THAT SOCIETY WILL CONTINUE TO REQUIRE NEGATIVE SANCTIONS FOR SOME OFFENDERS. DUE TO THE VARIETY OF OPINIONS ON CLOSING JUVENILE CORRECTION INSTITUTIONS, IT IS DOUBTFUL MANY STATES WILL ATTEMPT MORE THAN TOKEN REFORMS AT PRESENT. (MJW)