NCJ Number
51159
Date Published
1976
Length
286 pages
Annotation
SIX COURTS FROM SIX STATES ARE STUDIED TO DETERMINE THE OPERATION OF THE JUVENILE COURT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT, MECHANISMS LINKING COURTS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND FACTORS AFFECTING CASE OUTCOMES.
Abstract
BECAUSE OF THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF JUVENILE COURTS, FICTITIOUS NAMES ARE USED FOR BOTH COURTS AND STATES IN THIS STUDY. THE STATES WERE SELECTED FROM AMONG THOSE WITH HIGH AND LOW RATINGS ON DUE PROCESS VARIABLES AND HIGH AND LOW DEGREES OF CENTRALIZED PROBATION, AS DETERMINED BY THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS CONDUCTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MICH. THEY WERE GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE. THE SIX CASE STUDIES DESCRIBE COURT OPERATION, THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE COMMUNITY, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE COURT. THEN COURT AND COMMUNITY LINKAGES ARE STUDIED TOGETHER WITH THE OPERATIONAL NORMS OF THE COURTS AND MAJOR COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS. THE WAYS COURT AND COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS INFLUENCE CASE OUTCOMES AND USE OF RESOURCES ARE EXPLORED. INTERVIEWS WITH COURT PERSONNEL, QUESTIONNAIRES, AND ONSITE OBSERVATIONS ARE USED TO DEVELOP THESE CASE HISTORIES. TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA. IT WAS FOUND THAT CASE OUTCOMES DO NOT DEPEND UPON AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AS HYPOTHESIZED, BUT RATHER ON COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS AND COURT PHILOSOPHY. THE INTERACTION BETWEEN COMMUNITY VALUES AND COURT DISPOSITION OF JUVENILES IS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THIS STUDY'S MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERY IS THE DEGREE OF AUTONOMY WHICH COURTS AND JUDGES HAVE IN DECIDING THE FATE OF THEIR CLIENTS, AN AUTONOMY POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVE ISOLATION OF THE COURTS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES. THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE JUDGE IS CALLED THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR AFFECTING THE OUTCOME OF A JUVENILE CASE. APPENDIXES CONTAIN SAMPLE QUESTIONS FROM THE COURT QUESTIONNAIRE, SAMPLE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY QUESTIONNAIRE, AND REFERENCES. (GLR)