NCJ Number
13280
Date Published
1974
Length
256 pages
Annotation
REVIEW OF THE POSITIVE FUNCTIONS OF JUVENILE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WHEN APPLYING DATA PROCESSING TO JUVENILE JUSTICE OPERATIONS.
Abstract
JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES ARE MAKING MORE USE OF COMPUTERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND PREDICTIVE PURPOSES AND FOR YOUTH SERVICES INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THE INITIAL PAPER ANALYZES PERTINENT STATE LEGISLATION, INDICATING THE CONCERN GENERATED BY THE AUTOMATION OF JUVENILE RECORDS. INDIVIDUAL PAPERS DESCRIBE THE MICHIGAN YOUTH SERVICES INFORMATION SYSTEM, THE MICHIGAN CHILD CARE AND PLACEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, THE ST. LOUIS JUVENILE UNIFORM REFERRAL AND INFORMATION SYSTEM, UTAH'S JUVENILE INFORMATION SYSTEM, AND A CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. OTHER PAPERS EVALUATE PHASE ONE OF THE COLORADO COURT AND PROBATION AUTOMATED SYSTEM, EXAMINE THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S COMPUTERIZED CENTRAL JUVENILE INDEX, AND DISCUSS AN INFORMATION COLLECTION AND REPORTING SYSTEM FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC OF THE JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT IN TORONTO, CANADA. ONE PAPER EXAMINES THE ISSUE OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS WHICH MUST BE FACED BY AGENCIES WHICH USE COMPUTERS. THIS ARTICLE NOTES THE POSSIBILITY OF A PROLIFERATION OF IRRELEVANT INFORMATION CAPABLE OF A STIGMATIZING EFFECT, UNDUE INVASION OF PRIVACY, A THREAT TO RECORD CONFIDENTIALITY, AND INCREASED RESISTANCE TO THE PURGING OF RECORDS. COMPUTERS HAVE BEEN USED ADVANTAGEOUSLY FOR JUVENILE CALENDARING AND DOCKET CONTROL, STATISTICAL COMPILATION FOR MANAGERIAL AND RESEARCH PURPOSES, AND PRECISION DECISION-MAKING. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THEIR LIMITATIONS.