NCJ Number
56707
Editor(s)
P J ECK,
B BRADSHAW
Date Published
1977
Length
109 pages
Annotation
THE FOURTH IN A FIVE-VOLUME SET PRESENTING CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS IN A SERIES DESIGNED TO ENHANCE CITIZEN EFFORTS TO ADDRESS CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES, THIS VOLUME CONCERNS ISSUES IN JUVENILE JUSTICE.
Abstract
THE ADDRESSES SUMMARIZED FROM A CONFERENCE ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM PROVIDE A PERSPECTIVE ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THAT SYSTEM, THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES CONFRONTING IT, AND NEW DIRECTIONS FOR POLICY AND PROGRAMS. MUCH OF THE DISCUSSION CENTERS ON DEVELOPMENTS IN JUVENILE JUSTICE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. ONE ADDRESS NOTES THAT RECENT TEXAS LEGISLATION HAS SOUGHT TO IMPLEMENT UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE GUARANTEES OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO JUVENILE COURT PROCEDURES. THE SAME LEGISLATION PREVENTS INSTITUTIONALIZING STATUS OFFENDERS, EXCEPT UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND EMPHASIZES COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. ANOTHER PRESENTATION INDICATES THAT MASSACHUSETTS IS ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT HAS SERIOUSLY ATTEMPTED TO DEINSTITUTIONALIZE JUVENILE CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS, WHILE JUVENILE INSTITUTIONALIZATION GENERALLY HAS BEEN INCREASING NATIONWIDE. RESULTS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS EXPERIENCE SHOW NO INCREASE IN JUVENILE CRIME IN GENERAL, WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS HAVING NOTABLE SUCCESS. ONE SPEAKER SUPPORTED ELIMINATING INDETERMINATE PERIODS OF JUVENILE SUPERVISION UNDER A JUVENILE REHABILITATION MODEL IN FAVOR OF DETERMINATE PERIODS OF SUPERVISION RELATED TO THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE COMMITTED. PROBLEMS AND ISSUES RELATED TO DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS FOR JUVENILES ARE EXAMINED, AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES IN COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAMS IS CONSIDERED. THE CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY ACTION IN CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAMS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, PLEASE SEE NCJ 56708-56717. (RCB)