Youth Correction: Personnel Considerations Relating to the Authority Plan

Abstract

Preceding articles in this symposium have developed the character of the American Law Institute's plan to improve the treatment of youthful offenders through the establishment of Youth Correction Authorities. The prospects of this plan for successful operation hinge largely upon the two elements of personnel and finance. It is with these two related elements that this article is concerned. The chief difference between the Authority Plan and other modern correctional programs rests in the centralization of administrative responsibility. All correctional facilities serving youth would be utilized by the Youth Correction Authority which could alter the treatment of any individual as changing circumstances demand. Under existing programs, related correctional functions are in many jurisdictions dissociated so that needed changes in treatment are difficult unless new offenses are committed. The types of personnel needed to perform the services contemplated in the model Youth Correction Authority Act are those now considered essential by modern correctional programs. The staff of an Authority would consist of social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, teachers, vocational advisers, and institutional staffs, reinforced and united by administrative and executive personnel, research statisticians, sociologists, and other specialists. A chart suggesting a possible form of organization for an Authority appears on the following page. All staff members must be qualified in terms of personality and character, as well as through training and experience.