NCJ Number
107460
Date Published
1987
Length
201 pages
Annotation
The model acts contained in this volume are designed to aid legislatures in Washington State and other States implement reforms in the juvenile justice code in general and the delinquency section in particular.
Abstract
The model acts are formal in that they limit discretionary decisionmaking and expand criminal due process in the juvenile court. They are offense-oriented, employing legal variables such as offense severity and prior offense history for the determination of dispositions. The acts emphasize individual responsibility for delinquent acts and noncriminal misbehaviors, while also holding the juvenile justice system accountable for the equal and proportional treatment of these youth. The Model Delinquency Act covers personnel, jurisdiction and venue, custody, detention and detention facilities, initiation of proceedings, diversion, adjudication, disposition, restitution, and records. The Disobedient Children's Act deals with truancy, runaways, juvenile substance dependency, missing children, and custody issues. Other suggested reforms cover incapacitated juveniles, release from custody, and school safety. Commentary on the reforms, a comparison of State juvenile codes, and results of an opinion survey are included. 182-item annotated bibliography and tables.