NCJ Number
52611
Journal
YOUTH AUTHORITY QUARTERLY Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1978) Pages: 3-9
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
IT IS ARGUED THAT CALIFORNIA'S JUVENILE CORRECTIONS AGENCY CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR CURBING CRIME SINCE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS TOO DISJOINTED TO BE EFFECTIVE AND CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES ARE NEEDED.
Abstract
THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO CONNECTION BETWEEN STATE, COUNTY, AND NATIONAL AGENCIES CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROCESSING, SUPERVISING REHABILITATION, AND COUNSELING JUVENILES IN CALIFORNIA. THE YOUTH AUTHORITY, STATE-LEVEL CORRECTIONAL AGENCY THAT ACCEPTS COMMITMENTS OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS BY JUVENILE COURTS AND OF YOUNG ADULT OFFENDERS BY ADULT CRIMINAL COURTS, IS OFTEN CRITICIZED FOR NOT CURBING JUVENILE CRIME RATES, BUT IT IS THE LAST AGENCY IN A LONG TIME WITH WHICH A JUVENILE HAS CONTACT AFTER BEING ARRESTED. IN FACT, MOST JUVENILES ARE DIVERTED OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND PLACED ON PROBATION OR PAROLE LONG BEFORE THEY REACH THE YOUTH AUTHORITY. IN 1976, 1,900 YOUTH WERE COMMITTED TO THE YOUTH AUTHORITY OUT OF 354,000 WHO WERE ARRESTED. PUBLIC AGENCIES AND THE COMMUNITIES SHOULD CONCERN THEMSELVES WITH DEVELOPING APPROACHES TO PREVENT CRIME SINCE THE JUVENILE SYSTEM ONLY DEALS WITH OFFENDERS AFTER THEY HAVE BROKEN THE LAW. ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL WITH MANY JUVENILES BEFORE THEY GO FARTHER INTO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. JUVENILES ARE REFERRED TO THE BUREAU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER TROUBLE IS DISCOVERED BY SCHOOLS, PROBATION DEPARTMENTS, PARENTS, OR YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES AND THE BUREAUS OFFER COUNSELING, JOB DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, TUTORING, AND RECREATION PROGRAMS. THE YOUTH AUTHORITY SPONSORS SEVERAL OF THESE BUREAUS, PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTATION SERVICES TO LOCAL YOUTH AGENCIES AND IS WORKING TOWARDS COORDINATING SERVICES FOR STATE AND LOCAL YOUTH AGENCIES. (DAG)