NCJ Number
47721
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE FAILURE OF NEW YORK CITY'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENT CRIMES PERPETRATED BY YOUTHS IS DISCUSSED IN AN ARTICLE CENTERED ON A CASE STUDY.
Abstract
THE CASE IN POINT INVOLVES A YOUTH WHO, BY AGE 16, HAD ADMITTED COMMITTING 2 HOMICIDES, HAVING BEEN IN ROBBERIES INVOLVING 2 MORE KILLINGS, AND HAVING TAKEN PART IN INNUMERABLE NONFATAL ROBBERIES (ABOUT 40 TAXICAB STICKUPS ALONE), SOME BURGLARIES, AND AN ARSON. WHEN HE WAS 15, THE HOMICIDE CHARGES AGAINST HIM WERE DISMISSED BY A FAMILY-COURT JUDGE BECAUSE THE YOUTH'S OLDER SISTER, NOT HIS MOTHER, HAD BEEN PRESENT WHEN HE ADMITTED THE KILLING. AT THE TIME THE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN, THE YOUTH WAS 18 AND WAS STANDING TRIAL FOR HOMICIDE IN THE SHOOTING OF A TAXI DRIVER. DETAILS OF THE YOUTH'S CONTACTS WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE PRESENTED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE FEAR OF RANDOM, SENSELESS JUVENILE VIOLENCE ON THE STREETS HAS REACHED CRISIS PROPORTIONS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THAT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRAINTS OF ITS SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, IS NOT CAPABLE OF DEALING WITH THE CRISIS. THE SYSTEM IS SAID TO RECEIVE MOST OF ITS DIRECTION FROM POLITICAL AND SOCIAL PRESSURES EXERTED UPON IT BY VESTED INTERESTS WITHIN, THE RESULT BEING THAT NEITHER THE YOUTHS, THEIR SURVIVAL AND REHABILITATION, NOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR POTENTIAL VICTIMS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. ADMINISTRATIVE ERRORS SURROUNDING THE HANDLING OF THE YOUTH IN POINT ARE NOTED, AS IS THE SECRECY OF JUVENILE COURT PROCEEDINGS. THE DRAMATIC RISE IN JUVENILE VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK CITY (FROM 3,424 ARRESTS IN 1950 TO 26,153 IN 1975) IS POINTED OUT, AS IS THE INABILITY OF FAMILY COURT PERSONNEL TO DEAL WITH YOUNG DRUG ADDICTS, 11-YEAR-OLD PROSTITUTES, AND YOUTHS CAPABLE OF BEATING ELDERLY PEOPLE TO DEATH.