Looking at the Delinquency Problem from the Juvenile Court Bench (From International Review of Criminal Policy, Nos. 39 and 40, P 113-118, 1990 -- See NCJ-132076)

• NCJ Number: 132086
• Author(s): L W McHardy
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: United Nations Publications
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Policy viewpoints developed by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges consider the impact of disposition and juvenile court status on juvenile justice.

Abstract

In general, while youth must be held accountable for their behavior, proposals that materially and adversely alter individualized rehabilitation and treatment models are not acceptable. Juvenile justice resources should continue to be directed toward individualized treatment. The following recommendations are offered with regard to juvenile disposition policies: serious juvenile offenders should be held accountable by juvenile courts; individualized treatment should be considered for every juvenile; rehabilitation should be a primary goal of juvenile courts; and social investigations should be employed for individualized treatment. Other recommendations focus on the status of juvenile courts: courts for children should have the stature of general trial courts; judges should have long-term assignments to juvenile courts; and judges should lead in developing community resources for children. The role of judges in the management of increasingly limited resources is perhaps the most important issue in juvenile justice. 1 note