CRISIS IN JUVENILE COURT - IS BIFURCATION AN ANSWER

• NCJ Number: 17710
• Journal: Chicago Bar Record Volume: 55 Issue: 3 Dated: (DECEMBER 1973) Pages: 117-118,120-121,123-124,AND 126-127
• Author(s): J D SHULLENBERGER; P T MURPHY
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Chicago Bar Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE CREATION OF A FAMILY DIVISION TO HANDLE NON-CRIMINAL ADJUDICATORY MATTERS IS SUGGESTED IN ORDER TO REDUCE CASELOADS IN JUVENILE COURT AND TO AVOID THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF LABELING STATUS OFFENDERS AS DELINQUENTS.

Abstract

THE FAMILY DIVISION WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING TREATMENT, NOT FOR MEETING OUT PUNISHMENT, WHICH WOULD BE THE FUNCTION OF THE JUVENILE COURT, A FAMILY DIVISION, IN ADJUDICATING MATTERS OF AN ESSENTIALLY NON-CRIMINAL OR MINOR OFFENSE CATEGORY, COULD, FROM THE OUTSET, BE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO THE POTENTIAL CARE AND TREATMENT NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN BEFORE IT, AN OTHERWISE 'POST ADJUDICATION' OR 'DISPOSITIONAL' MATTER UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE PROCESS UNDER THE FAMILY DIVISION WOULD BE ORIENTED TOWARD EVALUATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS AND NEEDS, AND COORDINATION OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF RESOURCES, AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO BEAR UPON THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS AND FULFILLMENT OF THE NEEDS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)