NCJ Number
61613
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUGUST 1979) Pages: 3-6
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE ISSUES OF CRIMINALITY AMONG AMERICA'S CHILDREN, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM, AND THE PROS AND CONS OF HANDLING JUVENILES WITHIN THE ADULT SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THREE CLAIMS RELATIVE TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE FREQUENTLY MADE TODAY, AND BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BASED UPON THE FACTS, THEY DESERVE TO BE REBUTTED. THE MOST PERNICIOUS AND DANGEROUS OF THESE MYTHS IS THAT 'OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO HELL AND TAKING THE COMMUNITIES OF THIS COUNTRY WITH THEM.' READILY ATTAINABLE FACTS TAKEN FROM THE UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS FOR 1974 THROUGH 1977 SHOW THAT JUVENILE CRIME IS DECREASING IN FREQUENCY. IN ADDITION, THE JUVENILE VIOLENT CRIME RATE IS GOING DOWN ON A NATIONWIDE BASIS, EVEN IN THE LARGER CITIES. THE SECOND MYTH IS THAT JUVENILE COURTS ARE INEFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH JUVENILE CRIME. THE FACTS INDICATE, HOWEVER, THAT DURING THE PAST 4 YEARS POLICE RELIANCE ON THE JUVENILE COURT TO HANDLE CRIME HAS INCREASED STEADILY. ALSO, A RECENT STUDY INDICATES THAT THE CRIMINAL COURT IS MUCH LESS LIKELY TO DO ANYTHING WITH AN OFFENDER THAN IS THE JUVENILE COURT, PARTICULARLY IN CASES OF VIOLENT CRIME. FINALLY, THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS LOWER AMONG THOSE INDIVIDUALS HANDLED BY THE JUVENILE COURT THAN AMONG THOSE HANDLED THROUGH THE ADULT SYSTEM. THE THIRD MYTH WHICH MERITS DISCUSSION IS THE ARGUMENT THAT CHILDREN WHO COMMIT CRIMES COULD BE BETTER HANDLED IN THE ADULT SYSTEM. THIS ARGUMENT PRESUPPOSES THAT THE ADULT SYSTEM DOES A BETTER JOB. THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM, HOWEVER, WORKS TO BALANCE THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN WITH THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, AS APPROPRIATE WITH AGE AND MATURITY. THIS VITAL CAPACITY TO CONSIDER THE INDIVIDUALITY OF EACH CASE IS NECESSARY WHEN DEALING WITH YOUTH, AND IS NOT AN INHERENT PART OF THE ADULT SYSTEM. STATISTICAL TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE. (LWM)