NCJ Number
101028
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1985-1986) Pages: 1-8
Date Published
1986
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A community service restitution hours matrix based on proportionality can reduce juvenile offender sentencing disparity while providing for sentencing individualization.
Abstract
A court-initiated community service hours matrix is preferable to legislatively enacted guidelines. Such matrixes used in Dakota County, Minn.; Dallas County, Tex.; Dane County, Wis.; and Suffolk County, N.Y.; relate the number of community hours served to offense severity and other factors related to culpability. Additions and subtractions may be made to the matrix hours in accord with aggravating, mitigating, and other factors. The ideal design process for a court-initiated matrix uses an intrasystem task force that includes the presiding judge, a juvenile prosecutor, a public defender or private attorney who regularly represents juveniles, a juvenile police official, probation administrative personnel, and private restitution staff. Design content should use proportionality as its guide, requiring more hours for more serious and repetitive offenses and fewer hours for informally adjusted cases. Recommended hours should apply only to adjudicated offenses or offenses adjusted at intake for which there is probable cause and an admission by the juvenile. Community service hours matrixes are presented for the four counties. 21 notes.