Juvenile detention systems and practices

Juvenile Detention

The objective of this work is to analyze and report on a section, bureau or division in a criminal justice agency with a focus on examining the manner in which the section, bureau or division influences agency operations. Examples of the section, bureau or division that might be chosen for analysis includes those of Human Resources, Records Division, Office of Legal Affairs, Internal Affairs and/or Professionals Standards, Labor Relations Office, Budget Section for the ABC County Sheriff's Office and the DEF Juvenile Detention Center. For the purpose of this study the chosen section, bureau or division for analysis will be that of Internal Affairs as relating to Professional Standards in Juvenile Justice Affairs.

Methodology

The research which follows will be conducted qualitatively through means of an interview and a review of literature in this area of study. Qualitative research is interpretive in nature.

Office of Public Integrity: Georgia State Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJF)

The General purpose, legal basis and authority for the Office of Public Integrity (OPI) is established within the Georgia State Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA). This unit is "...directly responsible, organizationally and administratively, to the OJA Executive Director. " (Interview with Director of Georgia State Office of Juvenile Affairs, 2009) Three sections comprise this unit as follows:

(1) Internal Affairs/Employment Discrimination Investigations;

(2) OJA Licensing and Programs Assessment Section;

(3) Financial Contract Monitoring/Reviews Section and other duties as assigned by the Executive Director. (Interview with Director of Georgia State Office of Juvenile Affairs, 2009)

This unit is responsible for conducting investigations in addition to performing onsite assessment, licensing visits, and financially monitoring the state contracts, and the functions and activities of those contractors for the purpose of ensuring that they are compliant with state statutes, Georgia Office of Juvenile Affairs policies, procedures, and ensuring contracting is according to legal guidelines as well as enforcing and ensuring other professional rules and standards.

Specific points made in the interview include that among other activities and functions that Internal Affairs Investigations Section investigates allegations of serious misconduct in addition to possible criminal violations and allegations of discrimination under the Equal Employment Opportunity Act or against the Georgia Office of Juvenile Affairs personnel as assigned to the unit by the Executive Director of the agency.

Also investigated are and specifically assigned Caretaker Conduct Reviews (CCR) received by the OJA juvenile institutions that are operated by the state HR Office of Client Advocacy (OCA) for administrative review. Also included are incidents of assault, riots, escapes and other occurrences at the Office of Justice Agency for Georgia institutions.

II. Licensing Requirements and Program Assessment

Included in the licensing requirements and program assessments are on-site licensing and unannounced monitoring visits to the state contracted juvenile detention centers, community intervention center and municipal juvenile detention facilities. This included both announced and surprise or unannounced assessments of the residential care, non-residential services and shelters that are contracted and on-site assessments of the institutions operated by the Georgia Office of Justice Agency. The Juvenile Services Unit offices are also subject to on-site assessment as are any GOJA operated institutions. On-site assessments of the GOJA State Office units are also included.

III. Interviewee in this Study Bob Roberts Sheriff's Captain Reporting Directly to Sheriff in Dade County, Georgia

Bob Roberts, Sheriff's Captain for Dade County, Georgia Sheriff's Department and reporting directly to the Sheriff of Dade County is interviewed in this study as he is responsible for direction and monitoring of professional standards among investigators and other others working with juvenile justice affairs in Dade County, Georgia.

IV. Interview Questions and Answers

Question:

What are the primary responsibilities in your position as Sheriff's Captain?

Answer:

My primary responsibility is to "command a major division of the Sheriff's Department; performs complex administrative and professional duties including planning, organizing, directing, supervising, coordinating, and evaluating all the major functional programs and operations of the division; represents the Sheriff before commissions, boards, and other public bodies. I may act as Sheriff in his absence."

Question:

What distinguishes your position from others in the Sheriff's Department?

Answer:

The Sheriff's Captain serves as a major bureau chief or a Correctional Facility Manager within the Sheriff's Department and his work involves responsibility for the effective operation of major bureaus or facilities within the Sheriff's Department. The major bureaus include the Central Sheriff's Administrative Bureau, the Correction Facility, and the Field Services Division. The incumbents exercise considerable discretion in the performance of duties. Work is performed with a maximum amount of independence within established federal, state, and county laws; ordinances and regulations. The Sheriff's Captain is a sworn position within the Sheriff's Department; and incumbents may report directly to the Sheriff or the Undersheriff. Work is reviewed by means of conferences and analysis of objectives and results accomplished."

Question:

Please provide a description of your essential job functions.

Answer:

My essential job functions are to plan, direct, coordinate, organize, supervise and evaluate the operations, functions and personnel of one of the divisions of the department. I further direct and supervise staff engaged in crime investigation, patrol or assigned areas, juvenile crime and delinquency investigation, control and prevention; prepare cases for prosecution, instruct assigned personnel in the maintenance of order, law enforcement, prevention of crime and protection of life and property.

Additionally I direct and supervise staff engaged in the reception, detention and release of inmates including education, counseling, work therapy and other measures related to the rehabilitation of adult offenders while in custody; maintain all related records and prepare reports."

Also, it is my responsibility to ensure that "quality standards and compliance with regulations are maintained. I also perform special assignments that include the research and preparation of reports and projects, development and administration of programs and administration of state and federal grants and presentation of technical data to management.

Question:

How does your management of juvenile affairs affect or impact the Sheriff's Department as a whole? The Juvenile Justice System in your County?

Answer:

That is an important question and one I will answer first by stating that the manner in which the Sheriff's Department of Dade County uses in handling its affairs and interactions with juveniles who have found their way into the justice system has a great impact indeed on the entire county and its manner of handling these types of cases and interactions with these juveniles, their advocates and their family members. For example, it is important that the investigators on these cases do not violate the Constitutional rights of juveniles who are under investigation for criminal activity.

IV. Literature Review

The work of Brooke Richie (2009) entitled: "Department of Justice Finds Serious Constitutional Violations at State Juvenile Facilities" reports that after having conducted a "comprehensive investigation into four State juvenile detention facilities the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division issues a scathing report slamming New York's Office of Children and Family Services for serious constitutional rights violations." It is reported by Richie (2009) that the investigation