NCJ Number
25217
Date Published
1974
Length
51 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A DATA COLLECTION EFFORT ON THE PERCEPTIONS OF A SAMPLE OF JUVENILES INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, USING SUCH TECHNIQUES AS INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS, AN ATTITUDE SURVEY AND INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS.
Abstract
MUCH OF THE INFORMATION FOR THIS STUDY WAS DERIVED THROUGH IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH 18 JUVENILES AND OBSERVATION OF THE PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES THE JUVENILE EXPERIENCES IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AN ATTITUDINAL SURVEY OF JUVENILES WAS ADMINISTERED AT THE BERNALILLO COUNTY DETENTION HOME TO DETERMINE THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS, ATTORNEYS, PROBATION OFFICERS, AND JUDGES. IN ADDITION, INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS WERE HELD WITH APPROXIMATELY 50 JUVENILES IN THE DETENTION HOME, THE JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICE OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT, AND IN THE COMMUNITY TO ASSESS THEIR ATTITUDES ABOUT THEMSELVES AND TOWARD PEER GROUPS, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUVENILE JUSTICE AGENCIES. INTERVIEWS COVERED MANY ASPECTS OF THE JUVENILE'S LIFE: HISTORY OF ARRESTS AND INVOLVEMENT WITH THE LAW; CONTACT WITH PROBATION OFFICERS; FAMILY, PEER, AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS; PERSPECTIVE OF OFFENSES AND MOTIVATION TO COMMIT THESE ACTS; ATTITUDE CONCERNING SUCCESS AND FAILURE; AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HE FELT WERE NEEDED IN THE SYSTEM. IT WAS NOTED THAT IN ALL DISCUSSIONS, JUVENILES WERE CONCERNED WITH PEOPLE IN THE SYSTEM RATHER THAN THE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. GENERALLY NEUTRAL ATTITUDES WERE EXPRESSED ABOUT POLICE, WHILE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT PROBATION OFFICER WERE FOUND. IN INSTITUTIONS, YOUTH GENERALLY MASKED THEIR TRUE FEELINGS TO PLEASE STAFF, AND NONE FELT THAT THE PROGRAM CHANGED THEIR ATTITUDES OR HELPED THEM ADJUST. THE JUVENILES EXPRESSED AN OVERRIDING FEELING THAT THE SYSTEM WAS NOT CONCERNED WITH INDIVIDUALS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)