NCJ Number
37566
Journal
Washington Law Review Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1976) Pages: 697-732
Date Published
1976
Length
36 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A STUDY CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A JUVENILE'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE TRADITIONAL SOCIOLOGICAL MODEL IS MORE LIKELY TO RESULT IN POSITIVE MOTIVATION THAN THE LEGAL DUE PROCESS MODEL.
Abstract
A SECOND AIM OF THE STUDY WAS TO MEASURE THE ATTITUDES OF JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, AND CASEWORKERS TOWARD THE TWO MODELS. THE AUTHOR COMPARED THE ATTITUDES OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS TOWARD THE JUVENILE COURTS IN WALLA WALLA COUNTY, A SYSTEM WHICH CLINGS TO A LARGE EXTENT TO THE TRADITIONAL SOCIOLOGICAL VIEW, WITH THE ATTITUDES OF OFFENDERS TOWARD THE SYSTEM IN KING COUNTY, WHICH HAS MORE FULLY ADOPTED THE CONSTITUTIONAL DUE PROCESS MODEL. BETWEEN THE 2 COUNTIES, A TOTAL OF 31 JUVENILES WERE EXTENSIVELY INTERVIEWED BEFORE AND AFTER THEIR JUVENILE COURT HEARINGS. IN ADDITION, 9 JUDGES, 14 ATTORNEYS, AND 19 CASEWORKERS WERE INTERVIEWED IN DEPTH TO ASCERTAIN THEIR PHILOSOPHIES CONCERNING JUVENILE CORRECTIONS. THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY, ALTHOUGH ALL WERE NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT, INDICATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PROFESSIONALS FAVORED THE TRADITIONAL SOCIOLOGICAL MODEL, THE USE OF THE LEGAL DUE PROCESS MODEL WAS MORE LIKELY TO RESULT IN THE OFFENDERS FEELING THAT THE LEGAL SYSTEM WAS FAIR. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, IF THE OFFENDER IS MORE LIKELY TO BE REHABILITATED BECAUSE OF POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD THE LEGAL SYSTEM ENGENDERED BY THE DUE PROCESS MODEL, THEN THE LEGAL DUE PROCESS MODEL POSSESSES MORE POTENTIAL AS A REHABILITATIVE DEVICE THAN DOES THE TRADITIONAL SOCIOLOGICAL MODEL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)