Citation

Vinter RD. Crime Delinq. 1979; 25(2): 145-161.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/001112877902500202

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Formulation and implementation of rational and responsive juvenile correctional policies continue to present serious problems for state governments. Institutionalization trends are reported for the nation over the 1970-74 period: There was a decrease for juveniles and only a slight rise for adults (with sharp rises for adults in more recent years). Correlational analysis is used to examine associations over this period between the fifty states' rates of juvenile and adult institutionalization and levels of four crime categories (total index, violent, property, and burglary). No associa tions are found between states' crime and juvenile institutionalization rates. Associations are found between states' crime and adult institu tionalization rates; for each of these years, the correlation is strongest for violent crime. It is argued that state juvenile justice policies and practices impede rational assignment of young offenders according to severity of offense or degree of risk. Youths who commit violent and other serious crimes are typically mixed in all kinds of facilities with large proportions of misdemeanants and status offenders. Explanations of these nonrational patterns are offered along with suggestions for ways of improving state policy making and implementation.