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DECARCERATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS IN MASSACHUSETTS - THE EVENTS AND THEIR AFTERMATH (FROM ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH CRIME, 1978, BY NORMAN TUTT - SEE NCJ-53694)

NCJ Number
53699
Author(s)
A RUTHERFORD
Date Published
1978
Length
17 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES REFORM, RESULTING IN THE COMPLETE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF ALL JUVENILE OFFENDERS BY 1972, IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
IN 1969, THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES ACQUIRED A NEW DIRECTOR, JEROME MILLER, WHO DRAMATICALLY REFORMED THE STATE'S JUVENILE TREATMENT SYSTEM BY IMPLEMENTING OPEN GROUP DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND JUVENILES IN INSTITUTIONS. PERSONNEL WERE TRAINED IN NEW TECHNIQUES THAT BUILT ON BROADER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF YOUTHS. TRAINING CONSULTANTS WERE HIRED TO TEACH GROUP THERAPY TECHNIQUES TO STAFF. STATE INSTITUTIONAL POPULATIONS WERE DIVERTED GRADUALLY TO COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICE THEN BEGAN TO DEVELOP A NEW ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE REFLECTING THE PRIORITY GIVEN TO PURCHASING SERVICES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR. MILLER WAS SUCCEEDED IN 1973 BY JOSEPH LEAVY, WHO WAS CRITICIZED FOR THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY TREATMENT IN PREVENTING FURTHER CRIME BY ADJUDICATED JUVENILES. IN 1976, LEAVY WAS REPLACED BY JOHN CALHOUN WHOSE ADMINISTRATION STRESSED THE NEED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAM STANDARDS REGARDING THE QUALITY OF SERVICES PROVIDED FOR YOUTH OUTSIDE INSTITUTIONS. THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WITHIN THE MASSACHUSETTS JUVENILE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM IS EXAMINED WITHIN THESE FIVE ISSUES: (1) ADAPTABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE; (2) DEVELOPMENT OF A VARIETY OF PROGRAM OPTIONS FOR TREATING YOUTH RELEASED FROM INSTITUTIONS; (3) THE NETWORKS OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS (4) STANDARD SETTING AND MONITORING THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS; AND (5) THE PROVISION OF SECURE SETTINGS. PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE HARVARD CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SHOWS THAT RECIDIVISM RATES FOR JUVENILES HAVE NOT INCREASED OR DECREASED SINCE 1972. (DAG)