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Punishing Juveniles - What Works?

NCJ Number
96899
Author(s)
W J Greilich; B Trager; J Chisholm
Date Published
Unknown
Length
102 pages
Annotation
This text reports on a study of violent youthful offenders who were committed to the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) during 1975, 1977, or 1979.
Abstract
Arrest and DYS commitment trends are reviewed; demographic information on the background of the violent offenders is provided. Of the 506 youths selected for the study sample, 89 percent were male and 10.3 percent were female. Whites comprised 68 percent of the sample; blacks, 25 percent; and other, 7 percent. State population figures indicate that blacks comprise less than 4 percent of Massachusett's population, and thus suggest that black juveniles are being arrested and adjudicated delinquent for a disproportionate share of violent juvenile crime. Analysis reveals that violent juvenile crime increased from 1977 to 1979, even though the juvenile population decreased. The courts responded by committing increasing numbers of juveniles to DYS, which placed fewer and fewer of these youths into secure settings. In addition, length of stay in detention decreased with the progression of violent offenses, with the amount of time spent in secure treatment being less for second than for first time violent offenders. Finally, results indicate that there are no standard or simple methods for dealing with violent juveniles: the youths' criminal background and current offenses must be considered in developing a program of punishment or rehabilitation. Approximately 64 references, 9 figures, 15 charts, and 2 tables are included.