NCJ Number
90025
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (1983) Pages: 195-211
Date Published
1983
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Discriminant analysis of both observational and records data from two juvenile court systems is used to assess differences in the type and activities of the people involved in legal processing of status and nonstatus offenders.
Abstract
The analysis indicates that there are differences between the processing of the two categories of offenders; however, contrary to expectations, the most powerful discriminating variables (detention and petitioner) are not those related to the degree in which the justice system has implemented the formalities mandated by the Gault decision. It is concluded that statutory distinctions between legal categories of juveniles have virtually no relevance for the degree of formality with which these cases are processed by the courts. (Author abstract)