DISCUSSION OF 'DIFFERENTIAL SELECTION OR JUVENILES FOR DETENTION'

• NCJ Number: 43106
• Journal: Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1977) Pages: 166-172
• Author(s): P LERMAN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A STUDY BY PAWLAK WHICH FOUND THAT COURTS WITH DETENTION FACILITIES WERE MORE LIKELY TO DETAIN JUVENILE OFFENDERS BEFORE TRIAL IS DISCUSSED, AND VARIOUS PHILOSOPHIES GOVERNING DETENTION DECISIONS ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

THE LACK OF STATISTICS IN THE AREA OF JUVENILE PRETRIAL DETENTION HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEPARATE COURT-ORDERED DETENTIONS FROM PRETRIAL DETENTION DECISIONS MADE BY POLICEMEN AND INITIAL INTAKE PERSONNEL. WHEN ALL THESE DETENTION DECISIONS ARE TOTALED, A TREND TOWARD JAILING MINOR STATUS OFFENDERS WHILE RELEASING JUVENILES CHARGED WITH SERIOUS OFFENSES IS REVEALED. DETENTION HOMES ARE OFTEN JUST ANOTHER FORM OF JAILING. OVER THE YEARS SHORT-TERM DETENTION/JAILING HAS BECOME THE PRIMARY CORRECTIONAL RESPONSE TO ARRESTED JUVENILES IN THE U.S. THIS POLICY IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AS WELL AS UNWISE. SHORT-TERM CORRECTIONAL CARE COSTS ABOUT $19 PER PERSON PER DAY. COURTS WITHOUT DETENTION FACILITIES HAVE GENERALLY FOUND OTHER WAYS TO HANDLE MINOR OFFENDERS. THEIR POLICIES ARE LESS EXPENSIVE AND MORE REASONABLE.