Is the YSB All It's Cracked Up to Be?

Abstract

The 1966 study of the President's Commission on Law En forcement and Administration of Justice, recognizing the myriad problems facing America's juvenile courts, suggested the creation of youth service bureaus. Throughout the history of children- centered services in America, promising ideas have been altered in practice with disastrous results for the child. Because of this, and because of the mushroom-like growth of youth service bu reaus without due consideration of either philosophical under pinnings or probable consequences to the community, the YSB concept and strategy of "noncoercive intervention" must be questioned.