Thinking About Corrections : Juvenile offenders

Abuse Claims in Juvenile Detention

CC Pro — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:48:00 GMT

In a survey conducted by the Associated Press, over 13,000 claims of abuse in juvenile detention facilities were reported. The abuse claims ranged for physical to sexual abuse, and deaths while in restraints. While only a small percentage were confirmed by authorities, the number of complaints based on the juvenile population and the likelihood of non-reported incidents is striking. The survey covers the years 2004 to 2007.

Are We Having An iCrime Wave? Plus, Helping Drug-Involved Juveniles

Eileen Conway — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:03:00 GMT

The Urban Institute has been busy, posting two new reports on diverse topics. With the new FBI statistics showing violent crime up in 2005 and 2006, the Institute takes an interesting look at how iPods and other portable media devices might be driving the increase, "an iCrime wave." Separately, an evaluation of the Reclaiming Futures program "that seeks to improve outcomes for drug-involved youth in the juvenile justice system" finds "positive and significant changes" in all ten participating communities.

What Factors Drive Disproportionate Minority Contact in the Juvenile Justice System?

CC Pro — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:48:00 GMT

A report funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention highlights a delinquency study from three (3) metropolitan areas that examines disproportionate minority contact and the impact it may have on decision making by police and courts. The Program of Research on the Causes and Correlates of Delinquency produced this report in its ongoing mission to "improve the understanding of serious delinquency, violence, and drug use by examining how youth develop within the context of family, school, peers, and community."

What Works With Juvenile Offenders? Plus, A Major Report on Sex Offenders

Eileen Conway — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 15:07:00 GMT

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy has done it again, this time with a newly-posted report documenting six juvenile programs identified as evidence-based. Evidence-Based Juvenile Offender Programs: Program Description, Quality Assurance, and Cost includes brief program descriptions, cost per participant, plus citations to the research leading to the evidence-based designation.

Separately, a hat tip to Doug Berman at Sentencing Law and Policy, who further credits the Sex Crimes blog, for release of a new report from Human Rights Watch USA reviewing sex offender policies and their impact on public safety, the offenders, and their families.