THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 29, 1996 TAG: 9607260031
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 53 lines
Criticism has been aimed at Virginia's juvenile-justice system regarding two areas of concern at the Beaumont facility: (1) overcrowded conditions and (2) alleged lack of treatment for incarcerated youth.
Having visited Beaumont several months ago, I can confirm that overcrowding is a problem. Current projections by the state Department of Criminal Justice Services project that the number of incarcerated juveniles will double from the current 1,200 to more than 2,400 by the year 2001.
The problems faced today are a result of years of shortsightedness by previous administrations in failing to recognize the juvenile-crime trends and thereafter build sufficient bed space. In fact, even with local detention facilities overcrowded, an effort in the 1980s was made to reduce the number of state beds. Governor Allen also inherited an adult prison system that was grossly underfunded and led to several Democratic Party sheriffs suing the state as a result of a Democratic Party governor's neglect.
Governor Allen, in his first budget, proposed a 40 percent increase in funding to deal with the escalating plague of juvenile crime. Over the next two years, at least 680 new beds will be added to the state system.
Additionally, 283 private-provider beds will be utilized. These two measures alone will almost double the current juvenile-justice-system capacity. Although this will not meet the projected demand for space, it will begin to correct the problem. The added space, coupled with significant increase in staff, will increase the safety of the staff and offer a safer environment for juveniles.
Critics charge that the Allen administration wants punishment but not treatment for juveniles. This is untrue. Individual accountability and public safety remain the linchpins of the juvenile-justice system. For treatment to be effective, one has to separate the juveniles who are amenable to rehabilitation from those who refuse to try to turn their lives around. The current construction plans begin to address this problem by providing space to separate the most-violent juveniles from the less-predatory individuals. Also, the juvenile-justice legislation advocated by the Allen administration and passed during this year's General Assembly combines tough punishment for the most-dangerous juveniles with new sentencing options and programmatic changes for less-serious offenders.
Furthermore, this administration has not cut funding for rehabilitation and treatment programs but has actually added problems like JROTC. The innovative Allen legislative initiatives requiring character education in schools, alternative schools for disruptive students, wilderness work camps and an expansion of boot-camp incarceration programs will assist young offenders in changing their lives and attitudes.
ROBERT F. McDONNELL
Virginia House of Delegates
84th District
Virginia Beach, July 16, 1996 by CNB