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TRENDS AND ISSUES IN THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF YOUTHS IN TROUBLE

NCJ Number
69145
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1980) Pages: 281-298
Author(s)
P LERMAN
Date Published
1980
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER SUMMARIZES TRENDS AND ISSUES RELATED TO THE DIFFERENTIAL INSTITUTIONAL HANDLING OF ALL YOUTHS WHO ARE IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW OF THEIR JURISDICTION, OR WHO COULD BE IF THEIR BEHAVIOR WAS OFFICIALLY NOTED.
Abstract
THREE CATEGORIES OF INSTITUTIONAL HANDLING OF JUVENILES, USUALLY TREATED SEPARATELY, ARE DISCUSSED: JUVENILE CORRECTION, CHILD WELFARE, AND MENTAL HEALTH. THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS ON LONG-TERM CORRECTIONAL HANDLING OF YOUTHS IN TROUBLE. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN OFFSETTING CHANGES IN THE USE OF PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT INSTITUTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD WELFARE, AND PSYCHIATRIC UNITS OF GENERAL AND STATE HOSPITALS. A SHIFT IN THE BALANCE BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, AN INCREASE IN VOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS, AND A PERMISSIVE MIXING OF OFFICIAL AND DIAGNOSTIC LABELS HAVE ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE EMERGENCE OF NEW MODES OF INSTITUTIONAL HANDLING. OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE TRANSFER OF LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY, REDEFINITION OF ACTING OUT BEHAVIORS, INCREASED USE OF MENTAL HEALTH TERMINOLOGY AND FACILITIES, AND USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUBSIDIZE NONCORRECTIONAL PLACEMENTS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION POLICY BE BASED ON THE RIGHT OF CHILDREN TO RECEIVE PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED CARE AND SERVICES IN THE LEAST INTRUSIVE, LEAST RESTRICTIVE, MOST INTEGRATED MANNER, AND THAT THIS APPROACH BE PURSUED IN ALL FIELDS. IN PRACTICE, SUCH A POLICY COULD LEGITIMATE GRANTING FUNDING PRIORITY TO CHILDREN AND YOUTHS LIVING IN THEIR OWN HOMES, OR WITH RELATIVES, GUARDIANS, OR ADOPTED PARENTS. IN ADDITION, MUCH DISCRETIONARY POWER COULD BE MOBILIZED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS FUNCTIONING OUTSIDE THE STATE CAPITAL AND THE EXERCISE OF THIS DISCRETION COULD IMPLEMENT, MODIFY, OR EVEN TRANSFORM POLICY. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)