NCJ Number
103066
Date Published
1979
Length
334 pages
Annotation
Law enforcement, court, and correctional data were evaluated to determine the impact of a package of juvenile justice reforms, enacted in California in 1977, on the handling of status offenders (SO's) and juvenile criminal offenders. (C0's).
Abstract
Results indicate that the reforms had the desired effect of decriminalizing SO's. Arrests, probation, and institutionalization of S0's, showed continued and enhanced decrease. Evidence indicated that SO's were being routed to community alternatives. With regard to CO's, the law had the effect of resulting in harsher and less paternalistic handling and dispositions, particularly for more serious/violent 16- and 17-year-old youth. Little evidence showed that CO's were more frequently being referred to community resources. Also in line with provisions, district attorney (DA) involvement in juvenile cases increased following enactment. In general, court personnel were most satisfied with the DA provisions of the legislation, and least with the SO provisions. In addition, many repondents indicated that the reforms had had little effect on the day-to-day operation of the court. A study of psychiatric hospitals suggested that inpatient psychiatric settings may be serving as a vehicle for detention of SO's (particularly runaways) who before 1977 would have been handled by the juvenile justice system. Finally, implementation of provisions facilitating the remand of juveniles to adult courts was uneven across the State, although there was an increase in such remands, and penalties for remanded youth were more severe. Tables, Figures, and chapter references.