NCJ Number
105222
Journal
Law and Policy Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1986) Pages: 479-506
Date Published
1986
Length
28 pages
Annotation
In 1977, the Washington State Legislature enacted radical modifications of its juvenile justice code.
Abstract
Explicitly abandoning the parens patriae philosophy of the juvenile justice system, a 'justice' philosophy was adopted. Provisions of the law include a determinate sentencing structure, the divestiture of status offenses, greater due process rights for juveniles, and a formalized diversion process which emphasizes accountability rather than treatment. This paper brings together the available research on the implementation of the law to assess how the introduction of a justice approach has influenced equality, fairness, and punishment levels in Washington State's juvenile justice system. (Author abstract)