The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-06-27

dren. The additional staff for the
Single Unit Plan do not have to
live on the premises.
These are the terms used by the
National Probation Association,
the national private agency that
has conducted extensive studies of
the detention problem in the Uni
ted States and is, therefore, an
authority on the subject.
2. For Which Children are Key
Westers planning a Detention
Home?
Authorities suggestions may
help Key Westers to agree upon
some basic standards to use as a
guide in planning;
Sherwood Norman, National Pro-
baton Association, says,
"a clear understanding Of
which children should be detained,
and which should be released to
their parents is necessary" Mr..
Norman says to detain only the
following;
/. Children so beyond parent
or guardians control that they
can not be stopped from repeat
ing the behavior which is menac-
ing themselves or the community:
behavior such as: armed robbery,
serious assault and certain sex
cases.
2. Children who are in physi-
cal or moral danger in their own
homes or who are temporarily
stranded and for whom no other
immediate emergency placement
(Such as with friends, relatives or
.neighbors) is possible.
3. Children whose presence in
court, return to another jurisdic-
ton or community, longer time
placement or influenced testimony
in another court can only be as
Sured by detention.
The Special Juvenile Delinquen-
cy Project for the United States
Children'S Bureau is currently
working with States on proper
standards of Helping Delinquent
Children" Detention is one pro-
blem. Here are some ideas from
Project literature:
The three reasons for OBTAINING
children as described by the Ma
tional Probation Association i'm
plies that children in such serious
trouble must be securely held. The
place for holding them must offer
safeguards against their running
away or doing harm to themselves
or to others"
Since their own homes are either
morally or physically unsafe for
them, their parents are abusive or
neglectful or they are children be-
yond the control of their parents,
detention SHOULD be a construc-
tive experience" Detention should
not be "a period of cold storage"
This need for secure custody
for certain children has led to an
unSound and damaging practice:
children are being held in jail. )"
Whatever the solution, we do
have to find way to keep chill
dren out of jail"
3. How many children need Sc
cure custody in Key West? Which
Detention Facility is needed:
Boarding Home, Family Detention
Home or Unit Detention Home?
For the time being, is it pos
sible to separate planning for the
secure custody of delinquent chill
dren from the planning for tenn
porary shelter care for dependent,
abandoned or neglected children?
Secure custody is thought Of for
"that varied and unsettled group
Of children awaiting court action
who have serious behavior difficult
ties" and require care in a ply
sically restricted facility. 1t is used
exclusively by the Court.
Temporary shelter care is es-
sentially service for the welfare
of dependent. neglected and abus-
ed children, pending longer term
foster care or return TO their own
homes. This service is not the ex-