ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM (FROM INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY CORRECTIONS AND THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES, 12TH ANNUAL INTERAGENCY WORKSHOP - PROCEEDINGS, 1977 - SEE NCJ-50660)

• NCJ Number: 50673
• Author(s): R H CLARK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Sam Houston State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PHILOSOPHY UNDERLYING A JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM THAT HOLDS JUVENILES ACCOUNTABLE FOR SPECIFIC OFFENSES IS DISCUSSED, AND SUCH A SYSTEM IN KING COUNTY, WASH. IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

NOTING THAT THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM HAS IN THE PAST FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON THE REHABILITATION OF YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 18, IT IS ARGUED THAT RECENT STUDIES ARE VALID IN SHOWING THAT, WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS, EXISTING REHABILITATION PROGRAMS HAVE NOT REDUCED JUVENILE RECIDIVISM. THIS IS CONSIDERED TO MEAN, IN EFFECT, THAT THE EMPHASIS ON REHABILITATION HAS NOT SERVED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM REPEATED CRIMINAL ACTS PERPETRATED BY JUVENILES, WHO ARE ESTIMATED TO COMMIT 45 PERCENT OF ALL SERIOUS CRIME. AN IMBALANCE OF EMPHASIS ON REHABILITATION IS BELIEVED TO HAVE DILUTED THE INTENDED DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE SANCTIONS OF CRIMINAL LAW. IT IS RECOMMENDED, THEREFORE, THAT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM MOVE FROM AN EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE CLINICAL MODEL TO AN ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL WHICH HOLDS JUVENILES, PARTICULARLY REPEAT OFFENDERS GUILTY OF SERIOUS CRIMES, RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CRIMINAL DEEDS TO THE EXTENT OF SUFFERING APPROPRIATE PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR. THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM OF KING COUNTY, WASH., RECENTLY SHIFTED FROM A CLINICAL TO AN ACCOUNTABILITY MODEL. THIS HAS ENTAILED THE INTRODUCTION OF A PROSECUTOR IN THE SCREENING AND TRYING OF JUVENILES ACCUSED OF CRIMES, IN CONTRAST TO THE USE OF PROBATION OFFICERS AND JUVENILE JUDGES IN GATHERING FACTS SURROUNDING THE OFFENSE AND THE ACCUSED. THE PROSECUTOR RECEIVES POLICE REPORTS ON ALL JUVENILE OFFENSES AND SCREENS OUT THOSE WITH INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE AND THOSE INVOLVING STATUS OFFENSES AND FIRST OFFENDERS, TO BE HANDLED BY DIVERSION PROGRAMS. REPEAT OFFENDERS AND THOSE ACCUSED OF SEVERE CRIMES ARE BROUGHT TO TRIAL WITH A PROSECUTORIAL INTENT OF INCARCERATING THOSE WHO REPEATEDLY THREATEN THE PUBLIC WITH SERIOUS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. FURTHER, PROBATION VIOLATIONS DUE TO NEW OFFENSES ARE HANDLED WITHIN A 10 DAY PERIOD UNDER THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED FOR PROBATION REVOCATION, IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE MORE SEVERE SANCTIONS WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME FROM THE OCCURRENCE OF THE OFFENSE.