Conditions of Confinement
Key Studies
Ainıt No Place Anybody Would Want to Be: Conditions of Confinement for Youth. (1999). Washington, CD: Coalition for Juvenile Justice. Available through Coalition for Juvenile Justice: Phone: 202/ 467-0864: Email: info@juvjustice.org.
Summary: This report on conditions of confinement for youth in the United States profiles correctional facilities housing juveniles in the District of Columbia, Texas, Delaware and Illinois.
Allen-Hagen, Barbara. (1993). Conditions of Confinement in Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facilities. Available through the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse: Tel: 800 638-8736.
Summary: This study assesses the conditions in secure juvenile detention and correctional facilities and makes recommendations to improve conditions of confinement.
Burell, Sue. The Human Impact of Crowding in Juvenile Detention. Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Spring 1998).
Summary: This article explores the human impact of crowding as actually observed in detention centers around the country through the eyes of juvenile advocates. It paints a dismal portrait of a system which is meant to humanely care for youth and shows how crowding and its effects are exacerbated by inappropriate detention decisions, systemic inefficiencies, and failure to consider other service or placement options. 10 pages. This publication is available from the Youth Law Center, and can be ordered by email at: info@youthlawcenter.com.
Burrell, Sue. Legal Issues and Liabilities in Juvenile Confinement Facilities. Youth Law Center (November 2000).
Summary: This is an overview of the legal issues relating to the conditions of confinement for detained children and supporting case law. Legal issues discussed include liability of public officials and issues arising in institutional litigation -- classification, health, access, programming, training, environment, restraints, and safety. 60 pages. Thirty dollars for publication, which includes postage and handling. This publication is available from the Youth Law Center, and can be ordered by email at: info@youthlawcenter.com.
Burrell, Sue, and Warboys, Loren. Working Together: Building Local Monitoring Capacity for Juvenile Detention Centers. Youth Law Center (July 1997).
Summary: This monograph describes the California Juvenile Hall Self-Inspection Training Project, undertaken by the Youth Law Center, with funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. From 1993 through 1996, project staff provided extensive training, written materials and consultation for California detention administrators and staff, juvenile court judges, juvenile justice commissioners and others interested in improving local monitoring of conditions in juvenile detention facilities. 53 pages. Free. This publication is available from the Youth Law Center, and can be ordered by email at: info@youthlawcenter.com.
Godinez, Salvador. (1999). Managing Juveniles in Adult Facilities: Identifying Population and Institutional Characteristics to Determine Staff Training Needs. Corrections Today.
Summary: This article on juvenile offenders in adult correctional facilities addresses training modules and/or procedures that relate to treatment and custody of youthful offenders housed in adult facilities.
HIV/AIDS and STDs in Juvenile Facilities. (1996). National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice.
Summary: The findings of a 1994 survey by the National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of policies, programs, and data regarding HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in State and local juvenile detention centers and training schools.
Kilbourne, Susan. (1999). Children Behind Bars: Youth Who are Detained, Incarcerated and Executed. Youth Advocate Program International. Available through Youth Advocate Program International: Tel: 202/ 244-1986; Email: yapi@igc.org; Web: http://www.yapi.org.
Summary: A booklet about incarcerated children from all parts of the world who are held in detention centers, jails and prisons. Advocacy issues concerning humane treatment and conditions of confinement are highlighted, as well as government programs and private programs that attempt to improve the treatment of children who are confined and locked up.
Lerner, S., The Good News About Juvenile Justice: The Movement Away from Large Institutions and Toward Community-based Services. Commonweal Research Institute (1990).
Summary: Description of four progressive states' efforts to decentralize youth corrections in reaction to the trend of incarcerating juveniles. Discusses new approaches for the rehabilitation of youth using community-based programs and analyzes the reasons for these programs' successes. 126 pages. Five dollars for postage and handling. This publication is available from the Youth Law Center, and can be ordered by email at: info@youthlawcenter.com.
Marylandıs Youth Do Not Belong in Adult Courts, Jails, or Prisons. (1999). Maryland Juvenile Justice Coalition.
Summary: This article discusses the increasing number of Marylandıs youth in the adult correctional system and makes recommendations for more research and evaluation on the effectiveness of waiving violent youth to adult court and limiting jurisdiction of the juvenile court.
Moone, Joseph. (1995). States at a Glance: Juveniles in Public Facilities. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Summary: This study analyzed data obtained from the 1995 Census of Juvenile Detention, Correctional, and Shelter Facilities in looking at the juvenile custody population across the States. Available through the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse: Tel: 800/ 638-8736.
Moone, Joseph. (1997). Juveniles in Private Facilities, 1991-1995. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Summary: A census study looking at the population of juveniles held in private facilities. Available through the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse: Tel: 800 638-8736.
National Juvenile Detention Association and the Youth Law Center. Crowding in Juvenile Detention Centers: A Problem Solving Manual. (December 1998).
Summary: This manual presents step-by-step guidance on developing a systemic approach to dealing with crowding and, in particular, the unnecessary use of detention. It recognizes that crowding is often a result of inconsistent practices and misapprehension about the characteristics of youth who are detained. The manual provides guidance on how to clarify and reach consensus on the purpose of detention and the important principles that need to be considered in that process. Copies may be purchased from the National Juvenile Detention Association, (606) 622-6259, for twenty dollars.
National Juvenile Detention Association and the Youth Law Center. Juvenile Detention and Training School Crowding: A Clearinghouse of Court Cases. (August 1998).
Summary: This is a compilation of detention center and training school conditions of confinement cases in which crowding was an issue. For each entry, there is a summary of the case; a listing of harms alleged in the complaint; a brief description of the remedy sought; a delineation of specific remedial terms as they appear in the judgment, settlement agreement, or consent decree; the name of the compliance monitor or special master; and who to contact for further information. 134 pages. Fifteen dollars to cover postage and handling. This publication is available from the Youth Law Center, and can be ordered by email at: info@youthlawcenter.com.
National Juvenile Detention Association and the Youth Law Center. Juvenile Detention and Training School Crowding: Court Case Summaries. (August 1998).
Summary: This is a shorter version of the Clearinghouse. For each entry, it contains a summary of the case, the type of remedy, and who to contact for further information. 32 pages. Five dollars for postage and handling. This publication is available from the Youth Law Center, and can be ordered by email at: info@youthlawcenter.com.
No Minor Matter: Children in Maryland Jails. (1999). Human Rights Watch.
Summary: This report calls upon Maryland to end the practice of detaining children in adult detention facilities and ensure that conditions of confinement for youth comply with federal and state law and international standards. Available on-line at http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/maryland/ or by contacting Human Rights Watch at (212) 290-4700, Fax: 1-(212) 736-1300.
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