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Increases in Juvenile Detention Center Population Dictates a Need for Assessment of Conditions of Confinement

NCJ Number
162961
Journal
Juvenile Justice Update Volume: 1 Issue: 6 Dated: (December-January 1996) Pages: 1-2,13-14
Author(s)
M J Dale
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The increasing juvenile detention population and lawsuits regarding conditions of confinement indicate the need for juvenile detention centers to engage in risk management to ensure appropriate conditions and prevent litigation and its accompanying cost.
Abstract
Existing case law does not define clear standards in all areas. However, the risk assessment or risk management techniques used by insurance carriers and large corporations can easily be applied in juvenile justice. The CHAPTERS approach developed by the Youth Law Center in San Francisco is one useful approach. Each letter in the word CHAPTERS stands for one major area to be assessed. These areas include classification, health, access, programming, training, environment, restraints, and safety. By conducting a CHAPTERS survey of conditions in a juvenile detention center and the constitutional and statutory requirements applicable to each topic, an assessor can fully evaluate the operation of the facility. Thus, any necessary corrective action can be undertaken with precision, and such corrective actions often will satisfy State and Federal standards.