Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders

Few states have established comprehensive systems to monitor jails, detention facilities, and correctional facilities to ensure that deinstitutionalization of status offenders is achieved. This information is extremely important since funding is contingent upon a state's ability to demonstrate compliance with the deinstitutionalization mandate of federal legislation. Three of the five states reviewed have legislation that allows status offenders to be placed in detention facilities, and two of the three also have legislation that allows such placements in correctional facilities. State Planning Agency officials, in all five states, did not feel they have implementing authority to bring about deinstitutionalization. Efforts to date have concentrated on removal of status offenders with limited provision of service or treatment. The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) has indicated that services for processing and treating status offenders are generally inadequate, inappropriate, and often destructive. Little information has been developed at the national level on the types of service alternatives that appear most effective for status offenders. LEAA feels that its role is to provide financial and technical assistance to the states rather than to mandate service requirements.