JUVENILE'S PERCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF THE DEFENCE COUNSEL IN JUVENILE COURT - A PILOT STUDY

• NCJ Number: 27068
• Author(s): K CATTON; P ERICKSON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 32 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Canada Solicitor General
• Corporate Author: University of Toronto
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

RESULTS OF A THREE STATE PRELIMINARY STUDY OF 22 JUVENILE COURT CASES UNDERTAKEN TO INVESTIGATE THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE JUVENILE AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND TO DETERMINE THE JUVENILE'S PERCEPTIONS OF THE DEFENDER'S ROLE.

Abstract

A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON JUVENILES' ATTITUDES TOWARD THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS FIRST PROVIDED. THE AUTHORS THEN DISCUSS THE STUDY GOALS, METHODS, AND RESULTS. THE STUDY CONSISTED OF THREE MAIN STEPS: OBSERVATION OF THE JUVENILE-DEFENSE COUNSEL INTERACTION BEFORE THE HEARING; OBSERVATION OF THE ADJUDICATION AND DISPOSITION PROCESSES; AND INTERVIEWS WITH JUVENILES AFTER TERMINATION OF THE HEARING. THE STUDY INDICATED THAT MANY OF THE CHILDREN DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE DEFENDER, AND THAT MANY DID NOT THINK THAT THE DEFENDER WAS SUPPLIED TO ASSIST THEM. PRE-HEARING CONTACT WAS BRIEF AND IMPERSONAL, AND DURING THE HEARING THE DEFENDER, FOR THE MOST PART, PLAYED A PASSIVE ROLE. IMPLICATIONS OF THE PILOT STUDY FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF JUVENILES' PERCEPTIONS ARE DISCUSSED.