Perf-Based Stds, Juvenile Correctional Facilities, 5th Ed_DEC 2024

Part 3: Justice and Order

Release Review 5-JCF-3A-24 (Ref 4-JCF-3A-23)

Juveniles are automatically scheduled for hearing and review by the releasing authority or designated agent when they are first legally eligible for release consideration or on completion of prescribed programs, to set a tentative re lease date Comment : It is essential a juvenile be seen by a releasing-authority representative relatively soon after he/she is received in a facility, or as soon as he/she is first eligible for release consideration. At this time, the authority should explain to the juvenile the criteria for release. Juveniles, family members, facility personnel, and field staff should have a clear idea of the authority’s view of the case as soon as possible to determine the factors the authority sees as important to releasing the juvenile.

Protocols : Written policy and procedure; classification manual; statutes.

Process Indicators : Documentation of methods used to determine minimum and maximum lengths of stay based on established classification criteria; copies of release-authority hearing records.

Early Release 5-JCF-3A-25 (Ref 4-JCF-3A-24)

Juveniles can be released earlier than initially anticipated, according to law and in conformity with the authority’s previously established written criteria Comment : It is essential a releasing authority’s established criteria be used to ad vance the release date of a juvenile. The behavior of the juvenile in a community program, a juvenile’s particularly meritorious efforts while in the facility, or ful fillment of a mutually agreed on program contract, may be among the conditions that a release authority might establish as legitimate criteria for advancing a release date. Protocols : Written policy and procedure; written release criteria; statutes; classifi cation manual.

Process Indicators : Juvenile records; release forms.

Court Documents 5-JCF-3A-26 (Ref 4-JCF-3A-25)

The releasing authority has available in writing information about a juve nile’s prior history, his/her current situation, and events in the case since any previous hearings, the juvenile’s future plans, and relevant conditions in the community. Materials in the case files are clearly identified as to source, and verified for the accuracy of the content of the material, and confidentiality. Comment : The degree to which a release hearing is effective will be determined in large measure by the quality and accuracy of the information that is available to

38 Juvenile Correctional Facilities, Fifth Edition