SPECIAL REPORT - Mass. Juvenile Training Schools Staying Closed - But Treatment Alternatives Are Short of Funds

Oct 13, 2026

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Special Report examines why Massachusetts juvenile training schools remain closed, citing officials’ statements that the state has no plans to reopen the institutions despite funding shortages. It describes rumors surrounding Jerome G. Miller’s policies, the shift toward alternatives such as group homes, foster care, counseling, and other non-detention options, and the program’s current focus on consolidating gains while testing replacements. The report highlights acute financial arrears, reliance on federal funds, and impacts on contractors and idled employees, including obstacles in securing secure facilities.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

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Pages9

Reading Time23 min

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SPECIAL REPORT

Mass. Juvenile Training Schools Staying Closed

Treatment Alternatives Short of Funds

15 CALIFORNIAATE LIBRARYMAY 291973VOLUME 4A PUBLICATIONARYNUMBER11THE NATA ALeJNCILAY 28,1973ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCYA Bi-Weekly Report on Significant DevelopmentsFor Leaders in Criminal Justice Administration # SPECIAL REPORT Mass.Juvenile Training Schools Staying ClosedBut Treatment Alternatives Are Short of Funds "Its significant that no one in the important positionsofthe state government wants to reopen the institutionsand in the last election no candidate for a major officeran on a platform of reopening the training schools"-Lloyd E.Ohlin in CJN interview discussing closingof Massachusetts juvenile training schools. "We are not going back to training schools,"Joseph Leavey,acting commissioner of the MassachusetsDepartment of Youth Services(DYS),told CJN in aninterview last week. Special Report(1).●Rumors are flying,butthe juvenile training schools in Massachusetts willstay shut despite shortage of funds to operate alter-native programs. Since Jerome G.Miller left the department lastJanuary to take on the job of director of the IllinoisDepartment of Family and Children Services,rumorshave been circulating at increasing frequency of the im-pending doom of his innovative,but controversialpolicies. Special Problems(3).■States will submit nar-cotics abuse prevention and treatment plans later thisyear to NIMH,signifying major realignment of pro-gram funding New programs to aid youth launchedby NCCD and Washington Research Project. Miller in his nearly three years on the job inMassachusetts closed down the state juvenile trainingschools and develcped non-detention alternatives-grouphomes,halfway houses,foster homes,counseling andmany others.See 3 CJN 49,113. Indeed,Miller's ideas and direct methods of im-plementing them have critics in Massachusetts andthroughout the country,but all evidence indicatesthat the state will not return to its juvenile institutions,despite a number of severe problems that have been en-countered.The current status of the program is one ofconsolidating gains and testing the alternatives. Police(5).●Police Training Institute startsperformance oriented basic training course,whileIACP sets up training seminars that can be con-verted tnto college credits. Washington Report (5).●Santarelli appears toretain existing LEAA policies and aims,but is unde-cided on direction of discretionary funding. Financial Problem Explained."There are noplans whatsoever to go back to training schools,"Leavey told CJN.“As a matter of fact we are suc-ceeding at long last in closing the county trainingschools."The last of the three training schools atthe county level,used ostensibly for the commitment Listings,Announcements(6).·Police depart-ment enforcement policy boards proposed to establishenforcement priorities ·Fairfax County drops bountyprogram for informers on drug pushers as interest wanes. Copyright 1973,National Council on Crime and Delinquency,411 Hackensack Ave.,Hackensack,NJ.07601 of truants,will be closing soon.The Middlesex schoolclosed in March,Hamden County closed last year andthe last to go will be the Essex County school. The most severe and immediate problem facingthe department,Leavey readily admits,is fanancial.The department has been in arrears,reportedly asmuch as S1 million in April,in paying for contractualservices performed by private agencies for outsidecare of juveniles in the department's custody. The reason for this,explains Leavey,is that thedepartment is in a transitional period of phasing outmaintenance of the training schools and reassigningemployees."We still have to keep people in thesebuildings to make sure the pipes don't burst,"ex-plained Leavey.Until July 1,the department isforced to rely principally on funds from the U.S.Department of Health,Education and Welfare andthe Law Enforcement Assistance Administration,inlieu of state funds. The situation will change with the FY 1974budget,starting July 1,when the institutions willbe taken out of the budget.Ev

FAQs

Why are Massachusetts juvenile training schools staying closed?

Officials state there are no plans to reopen the schools and that the state is succeeding in closing county training schools despite shortages for alternative programs.

What alternatives replace the closed juvenile training schools?

The report describes non-detention alternatives including group homes, halfway houses, foster homes, counseling, and other programs supported through contracts.

What financial issues affect these programs?

The department faces serious arrears in paying private agencies for care of juveniles, relies on federal funds until the FY 1974 budget starts, and experiences payment strains that create hardships for contractors.

Oct 13, 2026

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