NCJ Number
170008
Journal
Juvenile Justice Update Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (February/March 1998) Pages: 3-4,8-9
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article highlights the views of juvenile court judges from California, Florida, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania as expressed in a series of focus groups in which juvenile judges and victims assessed the juvenile court's policies and practices toward victims.
Abstract
Issues addressed in the focus groups were whether the victim is a client of the court, whether the victim should be in court, victim notification procedures, whether speedy case resolution promotes victim interests, how victims are treated by the juvenile justice system, the use of victim impact statements, and the victim's role in decisionmaking. Other issues addressed in the focus groups were separate waiting areas for victims, restitution practices, victim-offender dialogues, victim impact panels, and community accountability boards. The latter issue pertains to a group of citizens that determines or recommends appropriate sanctions for an offender who lives near them. Board members may assume functions traditionally provided by probation officers. They may arrange and directly supervise community service work assignments or mentor juveniles. The participation of the victim in board deliberations fulfills restorative justice principles, although boards can operate in the absence of victim involvement. The judges, when face-to-face with victims in the focus groups, became more aware of victim concerns about juvenile justice processes. The 20 judges who participated in the focus groups all stated they would work to improve their courts' interfaces with victims.