a) History
One of the first specialized institutional care program founded in 1825 was the New York House of Refuge. The concept was to remove criminals from their community but provide a family atmosphere and a means of protecting children from the evil influences of adult facilities. Then in 1846, Massachusetts opened the Lyman School as the first reform school. The reform schools were punitive in nature and were based on the concept of rehabilitation or reform through hard work and discipline. Later, in the 19th century feelings about crime among dependent and unruly children were that delinquency could be prevented if one moved away from punishment and more towards rehabilitation, diagnosis, and treatment.6 Many developments were then made in the 20th century ie., forestry camps, ranches, and educational/vocational schools.
b) Children in Custody Today
Despite years of efforts to decarcerate the juvenile justice system, more than 80,000 youngsters are being held in some form of custody.7 Once a delinquent becomes a menace to society, many are given a residential placement or institution where some correctional administrators have described conditions to be horrendous. Health officials have also cited institutions for pollution by vermin, rodents, asbestos, and so on. Many experts believe that institutionalizing young offenders generally does more harm than good. It exposes them to prison-like conditions and to more experienced delinquents without giving them the benefits of constructive treatment programs. I would agree institutionalization teaches them to be better criminals, instead of acting as a deterrent to some. The best source of information on institutionalized youths is the federal government’s “Children in Custody (CIC) series. The public juvenile facilities and per-resident operating costs by region and state in 1984-85, is as follows:
[Table 19-2, Public Juvenile Facilities and Per Resident Operating Costs by Region and State, 1984-85, is available at the Institute.]
(figure available in print form)
This survey provides timely information on the number and characteristics of children being held in public and private facilities around the nation.8 I feel there is a dire need of more programs and placements, where the emphasis is placed in the aftercare treatment, not institutionalizing for the status offender. Incarceration is costly, and ineffective in preventing inappropriate social behaviors.
Let’s view this dilemma from an economic perspective, in 1985, the average cost of housing one resident in Connecticut for one year cost the state $66,100.00.9 However, if the juvenile were a welfare recipient, the parent would continue to receive state welfare assistance, while the child was incarcerated for an indeterminate period. The taxpayers are providing financial assistance twice, for the same child. This is a prime example of misappropriated funds, and welfare fraud. On the other hand, when I was teaching in the public schools, the state mandated welfare recipients to have their child attend school regularly, or risk the possibility of being terminated. Somehow, the parent would encourage the child to attend school to avoid termination. When the parental rights to provide care, custody, and protection become the duty of the state, parents should no longer receive welfare benefits. I’m not advocating total termination, but suggesting if more parents suffered financially, they would be more apt to control their children’s unwanted behaviors. The way the present system works, incarceration becomes a bonus, instead of a family dilemma for the juvenile and the caretaker. Where as the working parents are held responsible for providing legal representation, and all the accruing legal expenses caused by the misbehaving of their child.
The juvenile institutions today are well-equipped with recreational facilities and educational components. Overcrowded conditions are one of the major problems. Expense is the next problem for housing juveniles. The statement “It’s a lot cheaper to send a kid to Penn State then to the State Pen,” is an indication that society should invest more money in educating a child instead of incarcerating him. Overcrowding and attendant problems are reasons why Connecticut and other states now attempt to reduce their secure population and rely more heavily on community-based programs like home release, and referrals to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Although there are many specialized programs, more transitional programs, or adequate placements should be designed for incarcerated juveniles with social and emotional handicaps.
