This study examined the usefulness of certain sociodemographic and psychological measures for explaining and predicting postrelease recidivism among youths treated in the New York State Division for Youth rehabilitation programs during 1971-1972. Changes in hostile behaviors were related most to program structure, but passive and work-related…

This paper reexamines the concept of organizational maintenance and argues that the common assumption of an inverse relation between maintenance and the sensitivity of organizations to client needs is not valid. A logical analysis suggests that maintenance should lead to a greater sensitivity to environmental forces that control important…

A librarian's view of the Mohican Youth Camp (MYC) and the Ohio penal system for youthful offenders provides information about these institutions and their library services. The report first describes existing treatment and institutions and gives the author's opinions as to how to make constructive changes in both public attitudes and the system,…

Workers in the field of corrections will find in this consultant's paper an examination of: (1) legal changes outside the area of the criminal process which have implications for corrections, (2) legal changes within the area of the criminal process, and (3) legal norms as a background for analyzing problems in the area of corrections. Intended as…

The manual's purpose is to draw together the body of knowledge gained from the experience of the approximately 10,000 unpaid local citizens currently providing volunteer probation services in about 125 courts. The manual draws heavily from the core experience with the Boulder Juvenile Court, Boulder, Colorado. The first chapter presents a general…

The report describes and discusses the legal procedures which Massachusetts employs in disposing of the cases of apprehended juvenile offenders, as well as the residential and community programs which normally deal with this group. The legal procedures and treatment programs are viewed as social responses to behavior socially defined as deviant.…

Describes Alternative Education program coordinated by a juvenile probation department providing tutorial instruction by university students to secondary school students who have been referred through the juvenile court for minor delinquency and/or truancy. Discusses benefits which include providing an option for school districts for chronic…

Evaluates an Illinois statewide program to remove status offenders from detention. Found substantially fewer youths were referred to detention but more youths than expected were classified as detainable and subjected to court and agency processing. Suggest this may be due to organizational self-interest and the weakness of community structure.…

Focuses on how lawmakers often ignore the category of adolescence in favor of an approach that sees only childhood or adulthood. Discusses age grading, issues in juvenile justice, and the developmental approach. Explains how juvenile justice can be improved by addressing adolescent development. (CMK)

Until juvenile records are uniformly shared among professional educators, law enforcers, and social workers, youths will continue to beat (and get beat by) the system. Discussed is the mission, target population, and method of the Juvenile Information Exchange Project approved by the Indianapolis Public School Board. (SI)

Case files (n=284) from a social services agency and juvenile court were reviewed to investigate how cases involving drug-exposed infants were processed. Data showed an overrepresentation of African American and Hispanic cases and underrepresentation of Caucasian and Asian cases. About 80% of children were removed from the mother; about one-third…

Describes studies of two rural programs for diverting status offenders from court system to alternative community programs. Examines communities and programs, suggests rural offender characteristics are similar to urban ones. Recommends development of community-based alternatives to child welfare and juvenile justice systems. (TES)

Offers four judges' perspectives on the various changes in the juvenile court system focusing on the increased violence among juveniles as having the greatest effect on the courts; includes issues such as juveniles being tried in adult courts, the need to improve juvenile courts, and the role of public interest. (CMK)

In recent years, the growing number of minority youth disproportionately confined in secure detention facilities has led to a search for a better understanding of this occurrence. Explanations vary but tend to center on either differential offending or selection bias. The present study examines the extent both may explain decision making by…

Crowded juvenile correctional centers, escalating costs of confinement, and high rates of recidivism have renewed interest in bringing innovative ideas to juvenile aftercare philosophy, practice, and programming. This program summary details an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention initiative designed to assist public and private…