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Juvenile Justice System: Change as a Constant

NCJ Number
177637
Author(s)
M J McMillen
Date Published
1998
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Conference papers focus on factors that should be considered in the design of juvenile correctional facilities, such that the design of the building facilitates the achievement of rehabilitative objectives.
Abstract
Three conference papers focus on "Policies and Problems." One paper presents national perspectives on juvenile justice. It notes that punitive legislation that targets juvenile crime has disproportionately impacted African-American communities and fueled their marginalization. Given the inevitability of large numbers of incarcerated juveniles under current juvenile justice policy, the paper pleads with the architects who design juvenile facilities to ensure that their designs promote rehabilitative efforts. A paper on national trends and issues points out that residential care is the most expensive alternative in the juvenile justice arsenal of dispositions; it consumes resources that could otherwise be spent on preventive interventions. The third paper in this section argues that an effective detention capability is at the core of an effective juvenile court, as it provides for immediate and progressive sanctions. Six papers focus on "Solutions." They include an overview of the Colorado Youthful Offender System, a discussion of factors for a successful juvenile construction project, the design characteristics of correctional facilities for youthful offenders, the facility requirements of short-term juvenile facilities, an architect's perspective of juvenile master planning issues, and a Colorado case study of design and planning in a dynamic environment. 21 references