NCJ Number
154900
Journal
Bench Press Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (March/April 1995) Pages: 1,6,7,16
Editor(s)
J Thomas
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article compares public perceptions of juvenile crime and juvenile justice with actual statistics and juvenile justice operations in Arizona.
Abstract
Although the public perceives that juvenile crime is out of control and that the juvenile justice system is ineffective, the percentage of juveniles committing crimes and even the percentage of violent crime has remained about the same; only a small percentage of juveniles are the cause of the serious crime. Violent crime is more serious, however, since gun possession is more prevalent among youth than in the past. Thus, the damage caused by juveniles' serious crime is much greater than in the past. The public perception that juveniles are not treated harshly enough has been met with new court rules in Arizona. The rules make transfer to adult courts presumptive for juveniles age 16 or older who commit certain violent or serious repetitive offenses. The problem with this policy is that many juveniles who are transferred receive adult probation and others are placed in adult prisons without sufficient treatment resources. When their sentences are completed, they are unprepared to become law- abiding citizens. Although many citizens perceive Arizona's juvenile justice system to be malfunctioning, it is far ahead of many other jurisdictions in the United States. The implementation of the Juvenile On-Line Tracking System (JOLTS) last year provides detailed information on all juveniles who enter the system. An extensive risk-needs assessment, which is being developed using the capabilities of JOLTS, will identify the risk level and treatment need of every juvenile referred to the system. The Commission on Juvenile Justice has issued recommendations for reform that focus on achieving a balanced approach to juvenile justice by protecting the public from the dangerous juvenile offender while providing treatment for the majority of juveniles, who can be rehabilitated.