NCJ Number
126359
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1990) Pages: 621-637
Date Published
1990
Length
17 pages
Annotation
In order to assess the effects of differential legal representation on juvenile court processing, this paper analyzes relationships among the presence and type of legal representation, the type of plea entered, and adjudication (conviction) rates in five Canadian juvenile courts in 1981.
Abstract
Accused juveniles with legal representation are found generally to have lower rates of conviction, mainly because of the increased use of the not guilty plea. However, because of the overall predominance of guilty pleas, the effect of legal representation on adjudication rates is small. The implications for the contemporary youth court are discussed. 6 tables, 10 notes, and 33 references. (Author abstract)