Israel (From Western Systems of Juvenile Justice, P 97-119, 1984, Malcolm W Klein, ed. - See NCJ-93558)

• NCJ Number: 93561
• Author(s): L Sebba; M Horovitz
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This review of Israel's juvenile justice system indicates that it has a strong welfare orientation.

Abstract

Israel's juvenile justice system retains the main characteristics of the British system; i.e.; proceedings occur in what is essentially a criminal court that is modified by a welfare orientation. On the other hand, the Israeli system of justice as a whole (including juvenile justice) has certain characteristics that differentiate it from many other systems. It is a centralized and unitary system with a single national police force, a single national probation service, and a single court system. The Youth Law of 1971 provided a strong welfare orientation for the juvenile justice system. It includes such provisions as specially appointed juvenile justice court judges, the addition of welfare criteria for pretrial detention, the possibility of downgrading felonies so they can be tried by the juvenile magistrates' courts, the possibility of court-ordered supervision by a probation officer or a period of observation prior to the verdict, mandatory probation officer's report prior to disposition, and elaborate provisions for treatment orders. In 1979, however, the government introduced a bill in the Knesset to amend the Youth Law of 1971 that would grant to the relevant authorities even greater powers of discretion and control. While most of the proposed measures have a welfare component, there is at least as strong an emphasis on control for its own sake. The provisions reflect not only the desire of the welfare authorities for greater flexibility in the administration of the system but also the dissatisfaction of the police with the 'soft' approach to offenders ages 16-17 when professional and organized crime is seen as posing a serious threat. While it is uncertain whether the proposals will be adopted, it is likely that the prevailing trend toward welfarism in dealing with juvenile offenders will continue. One table, 38 notes, and 17 references are provided.