Juvenile Detention: Detention Using Staff Supervision Rather Than Architectural Barriers

In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed staff secure juvenile detention programs, which use around-the-clock supervision instead of the architectural restraints such as bars and locks used in the secure detention method. GAO visited facilities in several states and interviewed juvenile justice experts to obtain information concerning the: (1) reasons why juveniles were placed in the facilities; (2) methods used to restrain juveniles in the facilities; (3) safeguards used to prevent juveniles from being abused; and (4) range of time juveniles were held in the facilities.