NCJ Number
101725
Date Published
1986
Length
124 pages
Annotation
This handbook summarizes the development and functions of juvenile courts, reviews U.S. Supreme Court decisions relevant to juvenile courts, outlines State juvenile codes, presents a model juvenile court statute, and examines children's rights within juvenile courts.
Abstract
A discussion of the rationale for the juvenile court's creation is followed by a review of jurisdiction and descriptions of such procedures as intake, initial hearings, adjudication hearings, and the disposition hearing. The U.S. Supreme Court decisions reviewed are Gallegos v. Colorado (1962), which pertains to protections associated with juveniles' confessions; Kent v. United States (1966), bearing upon due process for juveniles; In re Gault (1967), also bearing upon due process rights; and Schall v. Martin (1984), which upheld a New York statute authorizing the pretrial detention of accused juveniles. The outline of State juvenile codes focuses on the classification of juveniles. The model act eliminates court jurisdiction over status offenders, proposes procedures to ensure juvenile court procedures are noncriminal in character, limits court jurisdiction to those under 16 years old, and addresses excessive confinement periods for juveniles. Appendixes contain case studies of four State juvenile justice systems, selected State statutory requirements, selected statutes that authorize juvenile pretrial detention, and other juvenile statues. Subject index.