9.11 Juvenile Institutions
Alison S. Burke; Michelle Holcomb; and Kate McLean
Just as the juvenile court has different practices, so too does the correctional side of the juvenile justice system. Since the aim of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation, the treatment of youth is somewhat different than the treatment of adults. For example, justice-involved youth can be sent to detention centers, group homes, boot or wilderness camps, residential treatment centers, long-term secure facilities, or other institutions; they can also be sent to adult jails or prisons, so long as “sight-and-sound” separation is maintained – meaning that they cannot be housed with or next to adult inmates nor share any common spaces. The characteristics of different institutions specific to juveniles are reviewed below.
Detention Centers: In the first stages of the justice system, the court must decide if it will detain the youth. If a youth is detained, they are sent to a detention center, which is a short-term, secure facility. These are comparable to adult jails. Youth are often kept in detention facilities while waiting for disposition or transfer to another location. The average length of stay is 2-3 weeks. Factors that increase the likelihood of detention include prior offenses, age at first offense and current age, and the severity of the current offense. Research also suggests that race, gender, and socioeconomic status also play a role in deciding whether to detain a youth.
Group Homes: Group homes are long-term facilities where youth are allowed and encouraged to have extensive contact with the community. Youth may attend regular school, hold jobs, take public transportation, etc. In many group homes, youth learn independent living skills that prepare them for living on their own. These are similar to adult halfway houses.
Boot Camps and Wilderness Camps: As discussed in the last chapter, correctional boot camps largely serve juvenile or young adult populations. Boot camps are secure facilities that operate like military basic training. They focus on drills, manual labor, and physical activity. They are often punitive and very strict. Despite popular opinion, research shows that these are ineffective for preventing future delinquency. The length of stay is generally several weeks. On the other hand, ranch/wilderness camps may be prosocial and preventative. These are long term residential facilities that are non-restrictive and are for youth who do not require confinement. These include forestry camps and wilderness programs.
Residential Treatment Centers: RTCs are long-term facilities that focus on individual treatment. They include positive peer culture, behavior modification programming, and helping youth develop healthy coping mechanisms. Many have specific targeted populations, such as kids with histories of substance abuse or issues with mental health. They are often considered medium security, and the average stay is often six months to a year.
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