EFFECT OF SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS ON JUVENILE COURT DISPOSITIONS

• NCJ Number: 18971
• Author(s): C W THOMAS; R J CAGE
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 33 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-NI-03-0002; 75-NI-99-0031
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED TO THE SOUTHERN SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY CONVENTION - WASHINGTON, DC, APRIL 10, 1975

Annotation

AN ANALYSIS OF JUVENILE COURT RECORDS OF A SOUTHEASTERN METROPOLITAN COURT SHOWS THAT THE SANCTIONS RECEIVED BY JUVENILES ARE PARTLY DETERMINED BY THEIR SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND BY THE INDIVIDUAL JUDGE HEARING THE CASE.

Abstract

A REVIEW OF THE CASES PROCESSED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1966 AND JULY 31, 1973 YIELDED A SAMPLE OF 1,522 JUVENILES WHO HAD COME BEFORE THE COURT DURING THAT PERIOD. HOWEVER, ONLY THOSE JUVENILES FOR WHOM RELATIVELY COMPLETE SOCIAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE WERE CHOSEN FOR INCLUSION IN THE SAMPLE. THE SAMPLE OF COURT RECORDS WERE REVIEWED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN DATA ON EACH JUVENILE'S OFFENSE, PRIOR RECORD, SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS, ETHNICITY, HOME SITUATION, SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, SOURCE OF COMPLAINT, THE JUDGE WHO HEARD THE CASE, AND JUDICIAL DISPOSITION. IT WAS FOUND THAT WHEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF ALLEGED OFFENSE AND PRIOR OFFENSE RECORDS ARE HELD CONSTANT, SOCIAL FACTORS EXERT A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON DISPOSITIONS OF JUVENILES.