NCJ Number
65147
Date Published
1979
Length
353 pages
Annotation
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MANUAL IS TO PROVIDE A DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEM AREAS IN THE FIELD OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND TO OFFER LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE AND RELATED SOCIAL SERVICES.
Abstract
THE MAJOR SECTION OF THE MANUAL DESCRIBES EXISTING PRACTICES AND CORRECTIVE LEGISLATION, BEGINNING WITH THE SCOPE OF JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION. AN OVERVIEW IS PROVIDED OF LEGISLATIVE TRENDS, SUCH AS THE REMOVAL OF STATUS OFFENSES FROM THE DELINQUENCY CATEGORY, AND AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONCEPT OF DELINQUENCY JURISDICTION IS FURNISHED. DISCUSSION ALSO COVERS THE EXTENT OF JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION OVER STATUS OFFENDERS, CITING PARTICULAR STATES AS EXAMPLES. THE WAIVER OF JURISDICTION, OR POWER OF THE JUVENILE COURT TO CAUSE A CHILD TO BE PROSECUTED AS AN ADULT, IS ANALYZED, AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE KENT CASE, THE FIRST CASE ARISING OUT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO BE REVIEWED BY THE SUPREME COURT, ARE EXAMINED. A REVIEW OF JUVENILE PRETRIAL PRACTICES, DETENTION AND SHELTER CARE, AND PROCEDURES FOR PLACING CHILDREN IN JAILS IS PROVIDED. ADDITIONAL SECTIONS DISCUSS THE BROAD DISPOSITIONAL POWER OF THE JUVENILE COURT, THE RIGHT OF APPEAL, AND THE RIGHTS OF INSTITUTIONALIZED JUVENILES. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PROCEEDINGS AND RECORDS AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR MINORS ARE DISCUSSED, AND A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR CHILDREN IS GIVEN. A PRIMER FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE ADVOCATES LISTS RECOMMENDATIONS ON ORGANIZING A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, USING NATIONAL JUVENILE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AS A LEGISLATIVE RESOURCE, AND OPTIONS FOR TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS. EXTENSIVE FOOTNOTES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH SECTION.