NCJ Number
54172
Date Published
1976
Length
130 pages
Annotation
A SAMPLE OF CASE FILES OF JUVENILES TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND JUVENILES DETAINED IN COUNTY JAILS IN 1975 IN COLORADO IS EXAMINED, AND DATA ON OFFENDERS, OFFENSE, AND DISPOSITION ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE STATISTICS REPORTED WERE GATHERED IN RESPONSE TO CONDITIONS SET FOR FEDERAL AID TO STATES IN THE 1974 JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT. IN THIS ACT, FEDERAL FUNDING FOR STATE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROGRAMS IS GRANTED UNDER THE CONDITIONS THAT THE STATE DEINSTITUTIONALIZE STATUS OFFENDERS AND PROVIDE FOR THE PHYSICAL, VISUAL, AND AUDITORY SEPARATION OF DELINQUENTS AND ADULTS IN ANY CITY OR COUNTY JAIL. COLORADO BOUGHT INTO THE ACT IN 1975, BASED ON AN AGREEMENT TO MAKE A 'GOOD FAITH EFFORT' TO MEET PRESCRIBED CONDITIONS. THE REPORTED STATISTICS REPRESENT COLORADO'S EFFORT TO PROVIDE VALID DATA WHICH INDICATE THE EXISTING SITUATION WITH REGARD TO THE HANDLING OF JUVENILES WITHIN THE STATE, IN ORDER TO PLAN FOR MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF ACT AND ADDRESS THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN GENERAL. THE DATA REPORTED CAME FROM THE EXAMINATION OF A RANDOM SAMPLE OF CASE FILES OF JUVENILES TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND JUVENILES DETAINED IN COUNTY JAILS IN 1975. DATA IS REPORTED ON AGE, SEX, RACE, OFFENSE, WHETHER A VICTIM WAS INJURED, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF ANY PROPERTY LOSS, PRIOR RECORD OF OFFENSES, AND POLICE DISPOSITION OR LENGTH OF DETENTION. DEFINED PROCEDURES FOR TAKING A JUVENILE INTO CUSTODY ARE DESCRIBED, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO STATUS OFFENDERS. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILES TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND THOSE DETAINED ARE SUMMARIZED IN NARRATIVE FORM WITH REGARD TO AGE, SEX, AND RACE/ETHNIC ORIGIN. SIMILAR NARRATIVE SUMMARIES OF STATISTICS ARE PROVIDED FOR POLICE DISPOSITIONS, OFFENSE REFERRED TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PRIOR OFFENSES, SEPARATION OF JUVENILES FROM ADULT OFFENDERS, JUVENILES HELD IN DETENTION CENTERS, COURT CASEFLOW, JUVENILE PROBATION, AND JUVENILES RECEIVED BY THE DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED, AND SAMPLES OF THE DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS USED ARE IN THE APPENDIX. IT IS NOTED THAT EXTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE DATA PROVIDED IN THIS REPORT WILL FOLLOW IN A REPORT EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED IN MARCH OF 1977. (RCB)