Just as the juvenile court has different practices, so too does the correctional side of the juvenile justice system. Since the aim of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation, the treatment of youth is somewhat different than the treatment of adults. For example, justice-involved youth can be sent to detention centers, group homes, boot or wilderness camps, residential treatment centers, long-term secure facilities, or other institutions.

Detention

In the first stages of the justice system, the court must decide if it will detain the youth. If a youth is detained, he/she is sent to a detention center, which is a short-term, secure facility. These are comparable to adult jails. Youths are often kept in detention facilities while waiting for disposition or transfer to another location. The average length of stay is two to three weeks. Factors that increase the likelihood of detention include prior offenses, age at first offense and current age, and the severity of the current offense. Research also suggests that race, gender, and socioeconomic status play a role in deciding whether to detain a youth.

Group Homes

Group homes are long-term facilities where youth are allowed and encouraged to have extensive contact with the community. Youth attend regular school, hold jobs, and take public transportation. In many group homes, youth learn independent living skills that prepare them for living on their own. These are similar to adult halfway houses.

Boot Camps and Wilderness Camps

Boot Camps are secure facilities that operate like military basic training. They focus on drills, manual labor, and physical activity. The length of stay is generally several weeks. They are often punishment-based and very strict. Despite popular opinion, research shows that these are ineffective in preventing future delinquency. On the other hand, ranch/wilderness camps are prosocial and preventative. These are long-term residential facilities that are nonrestrictive and are for youth who do not require confinement. These include forestry camps and wilderness programs.

Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs)

RTCs are long-term facilities that focus on individual treatment. They include positive peer culture, behavior modification programming, and helping youth develop healthy coping mechanisms. Many have specific targeted populations, such as kids with histories of substance abuse or issues with mental health. They are often considered medium security, and the average stay is often six months to a year.

Long-Term Secure Facilities

Long-term facilities are forms of strict secure confinement. These include training schools, reformatories, and juvenile correctional facilities. These facilities are often reserved for youth who have committed serious offenses. They are similar to adult prisons but operate under a different philosophy. For example, incarcerated youth are still required to attend school within the facility.

Licenses and Attributions for Juvenile Institutions

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“Juvenile Institutions” is adapted from “10.11 Juvenile Institutions” by Alison S. Burke in SOU-CCJ230 Introduction to the American Criminal Justice System by Alison S. Burke, David Carter, Brian Fedorek, Tiffany Morey, Lore Rutz-Burri, and Shanell Sanchez, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Modifications by Alison Burke, revisions by Roxie Supplee, licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, include editing for clarity.