NCJ Number
49297
Date Published
1978
Length
24 pages
Annotation
YUGOSLAVIA'S SYSTEM FOR DEALING WITH JUVENILES IS DISCUSSED AND THE EXTENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN THE NATION IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
YUGOSLAVIA HAS A VERY RESTRICTED JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION WHICH DEALS ONLY WITH YOUNGER MINORS (14 TO 16-YEAR OLDS) AND OLDER MINORS (16 TO 18-YEAR OLDS). EDUCATIONAL MEASURES ARE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH BOTH THESE GROUPS OF DELINQUENTS, BUT ONLY THE LATTER GROUP CAN BE SUBJECT TO JUVENILE IMPRISONMENT. THE CRIMINAL CODE HAS A NARROW SCOPE AND DOES NOT INCLUDE PETTY OR STATUS OFFENSES. SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES AND PETTY OFFENSE JUDGES DEAL WITH CHILDREN AND OFFENSES OUTSIDE THE COURT JURISDICTION, AND JUVENILE COURTS -- ACTUALLY SPECIAL SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNAL AND DISTRICT COURTS HANDLE CASES WITHIN THE JURISDICTION. STATISTICS ARE PRESENTED CONCERNING THE EXTENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN THE COUNTRY, AND THERE IS AN INDICATION THAT THE PROBLEM IS BOTH INCREASING AND BECOMING MORE COMPLEX. PRETRIAL AND TRIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE JUVENILE COURTS ARE DESCRIBED. THE CRIMINAL CODE PROVIDES FOR NONINSTITUTIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL MEASURES FOR JUVENILES. THE FIRST TYPE CONSISTS OF DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND STRICT SUPERVISION, WHILE THE SECOND CONSISTS OF COMMITMENT TO AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, AN EDUCATIONAL REFORMATORY HOME, OR AN INSTITUTION FOR DEFECTIVE MINORS. ALTHOUGH IT IS GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE SYSTEM IS SOUND, PROBLEMS EXIST REGARDING THE TIME OF INTERVENTION IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, CASE DISMISSALS, REPRESSIVE TREATMENT OF PETTY OFFENDERS, AND OBSTACLES TO IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCEDURES IN THE CRIMINAL CODE. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. REFERENCES ARE FOOTNOTED. (DAG)