JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 65713
• Author(s): N GOLDSTEIN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 0 pages
• Corporate Author: Associated Press; Prentice Hall Media
• Sale Source: Prentice Hall Media; Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. THE KIT CONTAINS TWO COLOR FILMSTRIPS, TWO AUDIOCASSETTES A LEARNING ACTIVITY PACKET, AND A 53 PAGE PROGRAM GUIDE. ASSOCIATED PRESS SPECIAL REPORT

Annotation

BY INCORPORATING INTERVIEWS OF PROFESSIONALS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH THOSE OF GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, THIS TWO-PART FILMSTRIP INVESTIGATES INEQUITIES IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS.

Abstract

JUVENILE CRIME AND DELINQUENCY HAVE REACHED SERIOUS PROPORTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH ABOUT A MILLION CHILDREN ARRESTED AND SERVED BY THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM EVERY YEAR. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOWS SENATOR BIRCH BAYH COMMENTING THAT THE SYSTEM WAS INTENDED TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE SPECIAL ATTENTION, LENIENT TREATMENT, AND A SECOND CHANCE TO LIVE A USEFUL LIFE WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF A CRIMINAL RECORD. HOWEVER, FEW PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE SYSTEM HAS WORKED. JOHN RECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION SUGGESTS THAT THE NATION START RELATING TO CHILDREN AS SEMIMATURE PEOPLE, RECOGNIZING THAT THE COURTS' DECISIONS SHOULD MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT THE CHILD'S CONDUCT AND THE NEED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. TWO CASE HISTORIES CITED BY SENATOR BAYH ILLUSTRATE THE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO REHABILITATE THE JUVENILE OR PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. A MAJOR AREA NEEDING REFORM IS THE LACK OF UNIFORMITY IN DEALING WITH JUVENILE OFFENDERS. A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY CAN BE SENTENCED TO 6 YEARS FOR MAKING AN OBSCENE PHONE CALL, YET THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR AN ADULT WHO COMMITTED THIS CRIME WOULD BE 2 MONTHS IN PRISON AND A $50 FINE. DAVID GILMAN OF THE INSTITUTE OF JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION SUGGESTS ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION FOR ALL JUVENILE OFFENDERS, INCLUDING PROBATION, FINES, PUBLIC WORK, AND INTERMITTENT CUSTODY. HE ALSO NOTES CHILDREN'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUNISHMENT CONCEPT RATHER THAN THE TREATMENT APPROACH BECAUSE DELINQUENTS KNOW WHY THEY ARE BEING PUNISHED AND WHEN THEY WILL BE RELEASED. MARTY GUGGENHEIM OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION NOTES THE UNFAIRNESS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH TREATS VIOLENT YOUTHS MORE LENIENTLY AND STATUS OFFENDERS MORE HARSHLY THAN THEY WOULD BE TREATED AS ADULTS. SENATOR BAYH SUGGESTS HANDLING EACH CASE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, ALTHOUGH THIS WOULD COST MORE MONEY THAN IS PRESENTLY BEING SPENT. A PROGRAM GUIDE AND ACTIVITY PACKET ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)