"Sentenced to Abuse": Problems of Juvenile Corrections Facilities

"Sentenced to Abuse": Problems of Juvenile Corrections Facilities

An editorial in the New York Times ("Sentenced to Abuse". Jan. 15, 2010, p. A20) decries the apparent frequency of sexual abuse in juvenile corrections facilities in the United States. A study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that 12% of thousands of surveyed juveniles in custody had reported being sexually abused; very significantly, in most cases the abusers were staff members. The Times reported that a federal commission has suggested a number of policy changes intended to prevent such abuse. These included better screening and training for staff.