Juvenile Corrections

AbstractA sampling of major scandals and abusive practices has dominated juvenile corrections throughout its history and has become especially pronounced in recent years. These trends contributed to the closures of many juvenile facilities across the nation. This article reviews the forces that led to the decline in the population of juvenile correctional institutions. It begins with the history of the first specialized corrections facilities for young people. The history of juvenile corrections has been plagued with a legacy of abuse, tragedies, and limited positive results. The evolution of juvenile corrections has been an ongoing struggle between advocates for secure congregate care and the reformers who pushed for more community-based solutions for juvenile offenders. Finally, the article presents some observations about policy directions for the future and states that the current status of juvenile corrections is deeply troubled; the future of this enterprise is uncertain.