Crime & Delinquency

There is growing interest in modeling a military boot camp experience in correctional settings. Prior research on the history of military approaches in correctional settings and military basic training and on the images of masculinity that are encouraged in correctional boot camps raises questions about the efficacy of the correctional boot camp reform. The military model may set the stage for abuse of power and encourage increased aggression by both staff and offenders. Research does not provide indications that there will be beneficial effects. The potential for negative outcomes has clear implications for the design and evaluation of correctional boot camps.

In spite of some skepticism regarding their efficacy, strategies that rely on expanded criminalization and law enforcement activities have been at the forefront of U.S. drug control policy within the last decade. In this “get-tough” climate, the drug decriminalization debate has withered. Called for in this article is a revitalization of the debate. To this end, drug decriminalization arguments are categorized and reviewed. Arguments that emphasize citizens' rights are distinguished from those that utilize a “least harm” approach. Suggestions for further considerations in the criminalization/decriminalization debate are offered.

The Wayne County Juvenile Court in Detroit, Michigan, recently developed and evaluated three in-home, intensive supervision programs as alternatives to commitment for adjudicated delinquents. More than 500 youths were randomly assigned to either intensive supervision or a control group that was committed to the state for placement. The evaluation found the in-home programs to be as effective as commitment for about one-third the cost. Two years after random assignment, the experimental and control group cases showed few differences in recidivism, either in official charges or by self-report. The study suggests that in-home programs are a viable option for many youths who would otherwise be committed.

This article presents the findings of a two-year assessment of the impact of the San Diego County Interagency Agreement upon delinquent behavior. The goals of this systemwide strategy are to reduce juvenile delinquency through consistent, early intervention and graduated sanctions, based on the nature of the arrest offense and prior offense history, and to hold youth accountable for their acts. The findings suggest that a strategy such as the Interagency Agreement may be successful in reducing juvenile crime if implemented carefully over an extended time period. Based upon the results of this evaluation, recommendations for other jurisdictions are offered.

The prosecution files of 350 child sexual abuse cases in Ector County (Odessa), Texas, were examined to determine the influence the child's age, relationship to the alleged offender, interval between initial occurrence and reporting of abuse, presence or absence of medical evidence, and presence or absence of a statement by the accused had on the subsequent prosecution and conviction of offenders. The victim's age and relationship to the suspect had no impact on the legal outcome. There was a greater likelihood of prosecution and conviction in cases in which medical evidence and/or a statement by the offender were available and a shorter interval existed between occurrence and reporting.

This study examines the patterns of public and private juvenile placements in one of the larger probation departments in Southern California. About two-thirds of the juveniles sent to institutional placements were placed in a private setting, and one-third were assigned to public institutions. This pattern was due to financial arrangements between the state and the county government. There were indications that more juveniles with the traditional “delinquent” background were placed in public institutions, while juveniles with individual problems were more likely to be sent to private placements. The policy implications of these patterns are analyzed in the article.