DELIVERING JUSTICE TO VICTIMS OF JUVENILES' MISDEMEANORS (FROM EVOLUTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE - A GUIDE FOR PRACTICAL CRIMINOLOGISTS, 1978, BY JOHN CONRAD - SEE NCJ-52561)

• NCJ Number: 52564
• Author(s): M A MORASH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): 5061-JD-5
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY, HELD IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA IN NOVEMBER 1977

Annotation

RESULTS ARE PRESENTED FROM A STUDY EXAMINING VICTIM REACTIONS TO TWO METHODS OF INTAKE FOR JUVENILES ACCUSED OF MISDEMEANORS.

Abstract

THE STUDY PRESENTED WAS STIMULATED BY THE GROWING INTEREST IN ATTENTIVENESS TO VICTIM SATISFACTION THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. VICTIM REACTION IS MEASURED FOR TWO VARYING METHODS OF JUVENILE INTAKE THAT EMPHASIZE COURT DIVERSION: COMMUNITY ARBITRATION AND TRADITIONAL INTAKE. THE COMMUNITY ARBITRATION PROGRAM AS AN INTAKE PROCEDURE PLACED GREATER EMPHASIS THAN TRADITIONAL INTAKE ON THE ADEQUACY OF EVIDENCE AND ON THE OFFENDERS' PAYING RESTITUTION TO VICTIMS. THE TRADITIONAL INTAKE PROCESS INVOLVED A DISCUSSION WITH THE VICTIM AND THE OFFENDER ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN AN INFORMAL SETTING, AND CASES WERE CLOSED MORE FREQUENTLY WITH A WARNING THAN BY PRESCRIPTIONS FOR RESTITUTION. DURING A 6-MONTH PERIOD, JUVENILE MISDEMEANOR CASES WERE SYSTEMATICALLY ASSIGNED TO ONE OF THE TWO INTAKE PROCEDURES. VICTIMS IN EACH GROUP WERE SYSTEMATICALLY ASSIGNED TO ONE OF TWO CATEGORIES: (1) INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD RECEIVE A QUESTIONNAIRE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HEARING TERMINATED; AND (2) THOSE WHO WOULD RECEIVE A QUESTIONNAIRE IN THE MAIL 6 MONTHS AFTER THE HEARING. THE QUESTIONNAIRES WERE DESIGNED TO MEASURE VICTIM REACTIONS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE PROCEEDINGS EXPERIENCED. VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS WERE ALSO INVESTIGATED. A MAJOR FINDING OF THE STUDY IS THAT INCREASED DIVERSION OF MISDEMEANANT YOUTHS FROM FORMAL COURT, ALONG WITH INCREASED DISMISSAL OF CASES BASED ON INSUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE, DO NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECT VICTIM ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR OF THE OFFENDER AND HIS FAMILY. THE STUDY DID NOT FIND THAT THE ARBITRATION HEARING AFFECTED VICTIMS DIFFERENTLY THAN DID THE TRADITIONAL INTAKE HEARING. DATA FROM THE STUDY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)