COMMITMENT OF JUVENILES TO TRAINING SCHOOLS

The study analyzes commitment rates to training schools, average lengt h of stay and the facility utilization in the various states over the period 1979-1990. Based on a regression analysis of the data, we found that only the bed ratio, which is the number of beds per 100,000 elig ible population, and average length of stay in training schools are si gnificant in explaining the changes of commitment rate over the years. The paper focuses on the meaning of the variation between states on t he commitment rate, the average length of stay and facility utilizatio n might have in terms of correctional policy. There is also a discussi on of our findings that the only significant variables in explaining c ommitment rate change were institutional variables that influence corr ectional policy.