Custody and Treatment in Juvenile Institutions

Correctional institutions have two purposes—custody and rehabilitation. This paper attempts to analyze the organizational patterns and problems of juvenile correctional institutions in regard to their goals. The findings of a study of six juvenile institutions for boys indicate that (1) institutions which stress treatment are likely to have a greater delegation of authority and a more complex departmental structure; (2) treatment institu tions and organizations which place equal stress on custody and treatment are more likely to have higher levels of conflict among staff; (3) staff in treatment institutions are less distant and domineering with the inmates; and (4) inmates' attitudes and groupings are more positive in the treatment institutions.