COURT/COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY (FROM JUVENILE JUSTICE THE HUMAN DIMENSION - HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROCEEDINGS, 1978, BY LADY BROWN AND JUNE BERRY - SEE NCJ-50131)

• NCJ Number: 50144
• Author(s): T SHELTON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Junior League of Lubbock, Inc; Texas Cmtte for the Humanities and Public Policy; National Endowment for the Humanities
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE FAMILY IS STRESSED AS THE UNIT FROM WHICH JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION MUST EMERGE. PARENTS MUST FOSTER POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS LAW AND AUTHORITY, INSTILL COMMON COURTESY, AND AVOID EXCESSIVE PERMISSIVENESS.

Abstract

MANY CHILDREN OBSERVE DISDAIN FOR LAW, AUTHORITY, AND COURTESY INSIDE THE FAMILY, AND THIS IS A STRONG FACTOR IN THE HIGH JUVENILE CRIME RATE. IT IS THE PARENTS' RESPONSIBILITY, AND NOT THE SCHOOLS', TO SUPERVISE CHILDREN, AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THE EXISTENCE OF STATUS OFFENSES IS JUSTIFIED IN CASES WHERE PARENTS SIMPLY CANNOT CONTROL THEIR CHILDREN. JUVENILE AUTHORITIES ARE AWARE THAT ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF FUTURE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IS FOR A CHILD TO RUN AWAY FROM HOME, TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL, OR TO HANG AROUND THE STREETS. STATUS OFFENSES ARE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND SHOULD NOT HAVE A LEGAL EFFECT ON THE INDIVIDUAL IN ADULT LIFE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT STATUTES CONCERNING NEGLECTFUL PARENTS BE REEVALUATED, THAT ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS BE SUPPORTED, AND THAT CHURCHES DEVELOP MORE ATTRACTIVE YOUTH PROGRAMS.