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Corrections Versus Care: Fulfilling a Mandate in Transition

NCJ Number
121008
Journal
Future Choices: Toward a National Youth Policy Dated: Premier Edition (Spring 1989) Pages: 62-70
Author(s)
C T Holding
Date Published
1989
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Juvenile corrections is examined in terms of current problems, Federal policies and funding, and future policy options.
Abstract
The juvenile crime rate has declined since the 1970's, but pretrial detention and confinement in training schools continues to rise. The high recidivism rates for incarcerated youths have resulted in charges that the institutions are not rehabilitating youths and that their overcrowding and abusive practices violate youths' rights. As a result, many reforms have been proposed. The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 represented the Federal government's effort to take over the leadership of the juvenile justice effort. In the 1980's Federal funding for juvenile justice programs has continued at a lower level than in the 1970's, despite administration efforts to make juvenile justice the responsibility of the States only. Action proposals currently reflect two extremes, one focusing on incarcerating more antisocial youth to protect the public and the other focusing on rehabilitating delinquent youths. Policymakers considering these options and their funding implications must first define the goal they want juvenile corrections to achieve. Reference notes.