NCJ Number
55451
Date Published
1978
Length
111 pages
Annotation
THE CURRICULUM PRESENTED IS DESIGNED TO INSTRUCT PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS IN THE HISTORY, MECHANICS, AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO SHOW HOW IT IMPACTS UPON CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Abstract
JUDGE D. BAZELON (1970) HAS CALLED FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESS, AND SPECIFICALLY IN HELPING TROUBLED CHILDREN. TO FACILITATE THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE SYSTEM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, IT IS NECESSARY THAT EDUCATORS' KNOWLEDGE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BE SUFFICIENT TO AID THEM IN PROVIDING ENLIGHTENED HELP TO THOSE JUVENILES UNDER THEIR CHARGE WHO ARE ALSO UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE JUVENILE COURT. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED CURRICULUM IS TO FAMILIARIZE EDUCATORS WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESS AND HOW IT AFFECTS CHILDREN. SPECIFICALLY, THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CURRICULUM ARE (1) TO PROVIDE A CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, (2) PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION TO IMPORTANT SUPREME COURT CASES AFFECTING CHILDREN, (3) DELINEATE SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EDUCATOR INVOLVED WITH THE JUVENILE OFFENDER, AND (4) SUGGEST A FUTURE PERSPECTIVE FOR THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AS IT RELATES TO THE EDUCATOR. THE CURRICULUM WILL EXPLAIN THE LEGAL JARGON USED BY THE COURT TO HELP THE EDUCATOR UNDERSTAND AND USE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHILD. THE FORMAT OF THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OPERATIONS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, A PRESENTATION OF SUBSTANTIVE MATERIAL, SUGGESTIONS FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE SAME MATERIAL, EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE PARTICULAR POINTS WHEN RELEVANT, CASE HISTORIES, AND STUDY QUESTIONS. ADDITIONAL READINGS FOR STUDENTS WHO WISH TO PURSUE A TOPIC IN DEPTH ARE ALSO SUGGESTED. THE CURRICULUM DOES NOT DEAL WITH DEPENDENCY, NEGLECT, OR CHILD ABUSE; ITS FOCUS IS ON THE EFFECT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ON CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 14 YEARS. (RCB)