NCJ Number
69405
Date Published
1980
Length
20 pages
Annotation
TWO LONG-RANGE INDIRECT STRATEGIES ARE SUGGESTED FOR SUCCESSFUL JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION IN CANADA: TARGETING SPECIFIC CRIMES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS, AND REFORMING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
MANIPULATION OF JUVENILES WILL NOT LEAD TO DRAMATIC DECLINES IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. BECAUSE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS BELIEVED TO BE CLOSELY TIED TO THE MORAL CODE OF SOCIETY, IT CAN ONLY BE PREVENTED BY SELECTING AREAS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AGAINST WHICH EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS WOULD RAISE THE MORAL LEVEL OF ALL SOCIETY, INCLUDING JUVENILES. THUS, INCOME TAX FRAUD, PURCHASES OF STOLEN GOODS, AND CORPORATE CRIME ARE PROPOSED AS AREAS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR WHERE VIGOROUS CRIME CONTROL PRACTICES WOULD YIELD A MUCH HIGHER RETURN IN TERMS OF REDUCING JUVENILE CRIME. A SECOND BROAD STRATEGY FOR DECREASING DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR INVOLVES STUDYING THE INFORMAL DYNAMICS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF CHOICES IN IMPROVING THE SYSTEM'S OPERATION IN DIVERSE GEOGRAPHICAL SETTINGS. TWO BRIEF STATISTICAL STUDIES ARE MADE OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JUVENILE COURTS IN CANADIAN CITIES TO ILLUSTRATE THE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH COMMUNITIES ORGANIZE THEIR RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO JUVENILE CRIME. THE USE OF DEFENSE COUNSEL IN JUVENILE COURT IS EXPLORED, AND THE SUGGESTION IS MADE THAT THE NATURE OF THE COURT SETTING MAY BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN DETERMINING OUTCOMES OF CASES IN WHICH THE JUVENILE IS REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL. JUVENILE JUSTICE PERSONNEL SHOULD WORK WITH 'BUREAUCRATIC CONVENIENCE' RATHER THAN AGAINST IT AS A MEANS OF REINFORCING CHANGE. IF RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON HEALTHY ALTERNATE SYSTEMS OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, THEY WILL IMPROVE THE CHANGES THAT APPROPRIATE METHODS OF JUVENILE JUSTICE WILL BE ADAPTED TO SPECIFIC LOCALES. TABLES AND 10 NOTES ARE PROVIDED.