Similarities and Differences of Named Local Juvenile Facilities

The specific programs which will be discussed are; Girls and Boys Town (Non-Secure)detention facility, Fishkill Correctional facility, and Tyron (Secure) detention Facility.

“Research has shown that many factors contribute to juvenile delinquency (Widom, 2001). “These factors can be characterized as: individual factors, including early antisocial behavior, emotional/mental health factors and substance abuse; family factors, including child abuse and neglect, family violence, and parental psychopathology; peer factors such as association with deviant peers and peer rejection; school factors, including failure to bond to school and poor school performance; and community factors such as poverty, concentration of delinquent peer groups and access to weapons”(Widom, 2001).

“Youth who are places as juvenile delinquents have committed an act, which would have been a crime if committed by an adult” (Widom, 2001). “Once placed, youth are admitted from statewide juvenile detention facilities to the care and custody of OCFS (Office of children & Family Services)” (Widom, 2001).

“A significant number of youth have committed crimes against persons, including assault, robbery, and sexual offenses” (Widom, 2001). “In addition, these youth are responsible for crime against property, such as arson” (Widom, 2001). “The list of “designated felonies” is similar to the Penal Law list of violent felonies, which include crimes such as: assault in the first degree, manslaughter in the first degree, and rape in the first degree” (widom, 2001).

“The assessment of youth is the first step in the planning process” (Widom, 2001). OCFS has two reception centers for youth entering the state’s juvenile rehabilitative system (Widom, 2001). The boy’s reception center is located in the Bronx; the girls’ reception center is located on the Tryon campus in Johnston.

“ Many youth who are remanded into the care of OCFS facilities come into placements with complex and sever problems including histories of alcohol and substance abuse, truancy, mental illness, domestic violence, gang involvement and criminality”(Widom,2001).

Tryon located in upstate New York is a secure detention facility. “Secure detention is a facility characterized by locks on the doors and other restrictive hardware designed to restrict the movement of the residents and protect public safety” (staff). “The department of juvenile justice’s secure detention program aims to gives youth the chance to make positive change in their lives” (staff). “Detention is viewed as a time to provide education, medical, mental health, case management and other much-needed services” (staff). “The facilities and their programs are an internationally recognized model for juvenile detention” (staff).