The majority of children in serious trouble—whether as a result of criminal activities or psychological afflictions—are treated or confined in state-operated or state-licensed facilities in every state. I am not referring to orphanages: the oldfangled orphanages are virtually empty, except for the “handicapped,” since nowadays any tolerably normal orphan, white or black, is adopted by eager foster parents. Probably the best state system for dealing with “delinquent” juveniles is California’s, for California has a special Youth Authority, independent of the state welfare apparatus. In the usual state pattern, alas, the concerns of the confused young are left to the vast “social services” bureaucracy.
In Michigan
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