Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-qsmjn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T23:40:38.383Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Ins and Outs: How Principals Can Smooth Transitions Between School and Juvenile Justice Centres

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2018

Sue C. O'Neill*
Affiliation:
UNSW Sydney, Australia
Therese M. Cumming
Affiliation:
UNSW Sydney, Australia
*
Correspondence: Sue C. O'Neill, School of Education, John Goodsell Building, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Email: sue.oneill@unsw.edu.au

Abstract

Researchers note that the transitions of secondary students with disability in and out of the juvenile justice system are problematic for both the young person and leadership teams of their sending and receiving schools. Much of the literature focuses on barriers to successful transitions; however, there are some accounts of positive transition practices. In this article, we identify these positive practices and outline the steps school principals and executives involved in transitioning secondary school students with disability in and out of juvenile justice settings can take to smooth the way and improve student outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Type
Special Education Perspectives
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

* This manuscript was accepted under the Editorship of David Paterson.

References

Aizer, A. & DoyleJ. J., Jr. J. J., Jr. (2015). Juvenile incarceration, human capital, and future crime: Evidence from randomly assigned judges. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 130, 759803. doi:10.1093/qje/qjv003Google Scholar
Australian Capital Territory Government Education Directorate. (2016). Safe and supportive schools policy. Retrieved from https://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/School-and-Corporate-Policies/wellbeing/safety/safe-and-supportive-schools-policyGoogle Scholar
Australian Government Department of Education and Training. (2006). Disability standards for education 2005. Retrieved from https://education.gov.au/disability-standards-educationGoogle Scholar
Australian Government Department of Education and Training. (2009). Compact with young Australians: Increasing educational attainment of young people aged 15–24. Retrieved from http://www.youthpolicy.org/library/documents/compact-with-young-australians-increasing-educational-attainment-of-young-people-aged-15-24/Google Scholar
Australian Government Productivity Commission. (2017). Report on government services 2017. Chapter 17: Youth justice services. Retrieved from http://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2017/community-services/youth-justiceGoogle Scholar
Australian Law Reform Commission. (n.d.). Particular privacy issues affecting children and young people. Retrieved from https://www.alrc.gov.au/publications/69.%20Particular%20Privacy%20Issues%20Affecting%20Children%20and%20Young%20People/identification-criminGoogle Scholar
Bateman, T., & Hazel, N. (2018). Promoting shifts in personal narratives and providing structures of support: Transitions of incarcerated children in England and Wales. In O'Neill, S. C. (Ed.), Incarcerated youth transitioning back to the community: International perspectives (pp. 167186). Singapore: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-0752-2_11Google Scholar
Bullis, M., & Yovanoff, P. (2002). Those who do not return: Correlates of the work and school engagement of formerly incarcerated youth who remain in the community. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 10, 6678. doi:10.1177/10634266020100020101Google Scholar
Cole, H., & Cohen, R. (2013). Breaking down the barriers: A case study of juvenile justice personnel perspectives on school reentry. The Journal of Correctional Education, 64 (1), 1335.Google Scholar
Cumming, T. M., Strnadová, I., & O'Neill, S. C. (2018). Transition planning processes for young people serving custodial sentences in New South Wales, Australia. Australasian Journal of Special and Inclusive Education. Advance online publication. doi:10.1017/jsi.2018.1Google Scholar
Dempsey, I. (2012). The use of individual education programs for children in Australian schools. Australasian Journal of Special Education, 36, 2131 doi:10.1017/jse.2012.5Google Scholar
Department for Education. (2011). Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability: A consultation. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/198141/Support_and_Aspiration_Green-Paper-SEN.pdfGoogle Scholar
Education Act 1990 No 8 (NSW). (1990). Retrieved from https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/~/view/act/1990/8Google Scholar
Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Qld). (2006). Retrieved from https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/2007-11-02/act-2006-039Google Scholar
Flexer, R. W., Baer, R. M., Luft, P., & Simmons, T. (2013). Transition planning for secondary students with disabilities (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.Google Scholar
Gagnon, J. C., & Barber, B. (2010). Characteristics of and services provided to youth in secure care facilities. Behavioral Disorders, 36, 719. doi:10.1177/019874291003600102Google Scholar
Gagnon, J. C., & Richards, C. (2008). Making the right turn: A guide about improving transition outcomes of youth involved in the juvenile corrections system. Washington, DC: National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth, Institute for Educational Leadership.Google Scholar
Gonsoulin, S., & Read, N. W. (2011). Improving educational outcomes for youth in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems through interagency communication and coordination: Practice guide. Washington, DC: National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk.Google Scholar
Griller Clark, H. (2018). Involvement of the young person in transition planning. In O'Neill, S. C. (Ed.), Incarcerated youth transitioning back to the community: International perspectives (pp. 3558). Singapore: Springer.Google Scholar
Griller Clark, H., Mathur, S. R., Brock, L., O'Cummings, M., & Milligan, D. (2016). Transition toolkit 3.0: Meeting the educational needs of youth exposed to the juvenile justice system. Washington, DC: National Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Neglected or Delinquent Children and Youth.Google Scholar
Griller Clark, H., Mathur, S. R., & Helding, B. (2011). Transition services for juvenile detainees with disabilities: Findings on recidivism. Education & Treatment of Children, 34, 511529. doi:10.1353/etc.2011.0040Google Scholar
Griller Clark, H., & Unruh, D. (2010). Transition practices for adjudicated youth with E/BDs and related disabilities. Behavioral Disorders, 36, 4351. doi:10.1177/019874291003600105Google Scholar
Hirschfield, P. J. (2014). Effective and promising practices in transitional planning and school reentry. The Journal of Correctional Education, 65 (2), 8496.Google Scholar
Hogan, K. A., Bullock, L. M., & Fritsch, E. J. (2010). Meeting the transition needs of incarcerated youth with disabilities. The Journal of Correctional Education, 61, 133147.Google Scholar
Indig, D., Vecchiato, C., Haysom, L., Beilby, R., Carter, J., Champion, U., . . . & Whitton, G. (2011). 2009 NSW young people in custody health survey: Full report. Retrieved from http://www.justicehealth.nsw.gov.au/publications/ypichs-full.pdfGoogle Scholar
Ingersoll, S., & LeBoeuf, D. (1997). Reaching out to youth out of the education mainstream. Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.Google Scholar
Jolivette, K., & Nelson, C. M. (2010). Adapting positive behavioral interventions and supports for secure juvenile justice settings: Improving facility-wide behavior. Behavioral Disorders, 36, 2842. doi:10.1177/019874291003600104Google Scholar
Kasinathan, J. (2015). Predictors of rapid reincarceration in mentally ill young offenders. Australasian Psychiatry, 23, 550555. doi:10.1177/1039856215597532Google Scholar
Lanskey, C. (2015). Up or down and out? A systemic analysis of young people's educational pathways in the youth justice system in England and Wales. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 19, 568582. doi:10.1080/13603116.2014.961675Google Scholar
Leone, P., & Weinberg, L. (2012). Addressing the unmet educational needs of children and youth in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Washington, DC: Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform.Google Scholar
Lewis, T. J., Jones, S. E. L., Horner, R. H., & Sugai, G. (2010). School-wide positive behavior support and students with emotional/behavioral disorders: Implications for prevention, identification and intervention. Exceptionality, 18, 8293. doi:10.1080/09362831003673168Google Scholar
Marshall, A., Powell, N., Pierce, D., Nolan, E., & Fehringer, E. (2012). Youth and administrator perspectives on transition in Kentucky's state agency schools. Child Welfare, 91 (2), 97118.Google Scholar
Mathur, S. R., & Griller Clark, H. (2013). Prerelease planning and practices for youth with disabilities in juvenile detention. Journal of Special Education Leadership, 26, 8292.Google Scholar
Nellis, A., & Hooks Wayman, R. (2009). Back on track: Supporting youth reentry from out-of-home placement to the community. Washington, DC: Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Taskforce, Youth Reentry Task Force.Google Scholar
New South Wales Department of Education and Training. (2006). Prevention of violence in schools and TAFE NSW colleges: Provision of information to staff on students with a history of violence (DN/03/00589) memorandum. Retrieved from https://www.tafensw.edu.au/get-started-at-tafe-nsw/tafe-policies/policies?category=discipline-and-behaviourGoogle Scholar
New South Wales Department of Juvenile Justice. (2016). Juvenile justice: Year in review 2015–16. Retrieved from http://www.juvenile.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/JuvenileJustice/publications/2015-16 Year in Review.pdfGoogle Scholar
Noetic Solutions. (2010) Review of effective practice in juvenile justice: Report for the minister for juvenile justice. Manuka, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills. (2010). Transition through detention and custody: Arrangements for learning and skills for young people in custodial or secure settings. Manchester, UK: Author.Google Scholar
O'Neill, S. C., Cumming, T. M., Strnadová, I., & Grima-Farrell, C. (2018). Transitions from behind the fence to the community: The Australian experience. In O'Neill, S. C. (Ed.), Incarcerated youth transitioning back to the community: International perspectives (pp. 97113). Singapore: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-0752-2_7Google Scholar
O'Neill, S. C., Strnadová, I., & Cumming, T. M. (2018). Transition planning framework for New South Wales youth in custody. Sydney, Australia: UNSW Sydney, NSW Department of Education, NSW Department of Juvenile Justice.Google Scholar
Pritchard, J., & Payne, J. (2005). Alcohol, drugs and crime: A study of juveniles in detention (Research and Public Policy Series No. 67). Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute of Criminology.Google Scholar
Quinn, M. M., Rutherford, R. B., Leone, P. E., OsherD., M. D., M., & Poirer, J. M. (2005). Youth with disabilities in juvenile corrections: A national survey. Exceptional Children, 71, 339345. doi:10.1177/001440290507100308Google Scholar
Sailas, E. S., Feodoroff, B., Virkkunen, M., & Wahlbeck, K. (2005). Mental disorders in prison populations aged 15–21: National register study of two cohorts in Finland. British Medical Journal, 330, 13641365. doi:10.1136/bmj.38415.633762.F7Google Scholar
Scott, T. M., & Cooper, J. (2013). Tertiary-tier PBIS in alternative, residential and correctional school settings: Considering intensity in the delivery of evidence-based practice. Education & Treatment of Children, 36, 101119. doi:10.1353/etc.2013.0029Google Scholar
Shulman, E. P., & Cauffman, E. (2014). Deciding in the dark: Age differences in intuitive risk judgment. Developmental Psychology, 50, 167177. doi:10.1037/a0032778Google Scholar
Simonsen, B., & Sugai, G. (2013). PBIS in alternative education settings: Positive support for youth with high-risk behavior. Education & Treatment of Children, 36, 314. doi:10.1353/etc.2013.0030Google Scholar
Sprague, J. R., Scheuermann, B., Wang, E., Nelson, C. M., Jolivette, K., & Vincent, C. (2013). Adopting and adapting PBIS for secure juvenile justice settings: Lessons learned. Education & Treatment of Children, 36, 121134. doi:10.1353/etc.2013.0031Google Scholar
Strnadová, I., O'Neill, S. C., & Cumming, T. M. (2017). A snapshot of education behind the fence: Supporting engagement in education of incarcerated youth in Australia. International Journal of Educational Research, 85, 3342. doi:10.1016/j.ijer.2017.06.004Google Scholar
Sugai, G., Horner, R. H., Dunlap, G., Hieneman, M., Lewis, T. J., Nelson, C. M., . . . Ruef, M. (2000). Applying positive behavior support and functional behavioral assessment in schools. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 2, 131143. doi:10.1177/109830070000200302Google Scholar
Unruh, D. K., Gagnon, J. C., & MaGee, C. (2018). Community reintegration for young offenders in the United States of America. In O'Neill, S. C. (Ed.), Incarcerated youth transitioning back to the community: International perspectives (pp. 205220). Singapore: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-0752-2_13Google Scholar
Unruh, D. K., Gau, J. M., & Waintrup, M. G. (2009). An exploration of factors reducing recidivism rates of formerly incarcerated youth with disabilities participating in a re-entry intervention. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18, 284293. doi:10.1007/s10826-008-9228-8Google Scholar
Victorian Department of Education and Training. (2017). Behaviour support plans. Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/bullystoppers/Pages/teachplans.aspxGoogle Scholar
Victorian Department of Education and Training. (2018). Transfers. Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/participation/Pages/transfers.aspxGoogle Scholar
Work Health and Safety Act 2011 No. 137 (2011). Retrieved from http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/num_act/whasa2011218/Google Scholar