JUVENILE JUSTICE - CHANGING EXPECTATIONS (FROM JUVENILE JUSTICE - THE HUMAN DIMENSION - HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROCEEDINGS, 1978, BY LADY BROWN AND JUNE BERRY - SEE NCJ-50131)

• NCJ Number: 50133
• Author(s): R F LEONARD
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Junior League of Lubbock, Inc; Texas Cmtte for the Humanities and Public Policy; National Endowment for the Humanities
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PAST FAILURE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO PREVENT CRIME IS ATTRIBUTED TO A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE CAPABILITIES OF THE SYSTEM. THE CHANGING PHILOSOPHY INCLUDES THE REALIZATION THAT THE SYSTEM IS LIMITED.

Abstract

THE PUBLIC HAS BLAMED THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR NOT CURBING JUVENILE CRIME, AND THIS IS IN PART THE FAULT OF THE SYSTEM FOR PROJECTING THE BELIEF THAT IT COULD SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THE PHILOSOPHY SURROUNDING JUVENILE CRIME AND JUVENILE JUSTICE IS CHANGING, AND THE LIMITATIONS OF THE SYSTEM ARE BEING RECOGNIZED. THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY OF A JUDGE IN A JUVENILE CASE IS TO ASCERTAIN THE TRUTH AND INSURE THAT A PERSON WHO ENTERS THE SYSTEM RECEIVES ALL THE BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS OF THE SYSTEM REGARDLESS OF AGE. THE JUDGE CANNOT FILL THE FUNCTIONS OF TRUANT OFFICER, SOCIAL WORKER, PSYCHIATRIST OR PSYCHOLOGIST THAT HE HAS BEEN ASKED TO FILL IN THE PAST. FURTHER LIMITATIONS ON THE DISCRETIONARY POWERS OF THE COURTS, PROSECUTORS, AND POLICE OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO REMOVE POSSIBILITIES OF DISCRIMINATION. DIFFERENCES IN HANDLING THE OFFENDERS, HOWEVER, ARE MADE NECESSARY BY THE VARIETY OF PERSONALITIES AND ATTITUDES OF THOSE WHO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM. (DAG)