NCJ Number
56353
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1979) Pages: 47-54
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
AN ARGUMENT IS PRESENTED FOR INCREASING PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS. SOCIAL AND LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO MANDATORY PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT ARE EVALUATED.
Abstract
EFFORTS TO TREAT JUVENILES IN ISOLATION FROM THEIR FAMILIES WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE JUVENILES MUST RETURN TO AN UNCHANGED HOME ENVIRONMENT. CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAY EXIST IN FAMILIES WITH ONE OR MORE DELINQUENT CHILDREN INCLUDE OPEN HOSTILITY, SHALLOW RELATIONSHIPS AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS, LACK OF CONCERN BY PARENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AND ABSENCE OF A ROLE MODEL WITH WHICH YOUTH CAN IDENTIFY. SEVERAL STUDIES HAVE OBSERVED AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND LACK OF PARENTAL AFFECTION, CONSISTENCY, FAIRNESS, AND STRICTNESS. ALTHOUGH THE JUVENILE COURT IS OFTEN UTILIZED BY PARENTS TO THREATEN THEIR CHILDREN, THE COURT IS VESTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY AND RESOURCES TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT MEETS NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND THE COMMUNITY. A LEGISLATIVE MODEL FOR MANDATORY PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN TREATMENT IS PROPOSED IN WHICH FAMILY COUNSELING AND INTENSIVE SUPERVISION OF FAMILY PROCESSES BY A SPECIALLY-TRAINED FAMILY CRISIS UNIT OF THE JUVENILE COURT TAKE PLACE. THE MODEL STRESSES THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THAT ENVIRONMENT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT HOW A CHILD BEHAVES IN OTHER SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND WHETHER A CHILD BECOMES DEFINED AS NORMAL OR DELINQUENT. SIX SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE MANDATORY PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT MODEL TO REMEDY SOME OF THE CAUSES OF AND PROBLEMS IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE: (1) PREADJUDICATION COUNSELING SERVICES FOR PARENTS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE; (2) MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO SERVE FAMILY COUNSELING NEEDS; (3) INVOLVEMENT OF ALL PARENTS LIVING IN THE HOME SITUATION IN THE MANDATORY PARENTAL CONCEPT; (4) RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS FOR RESTITUTION IF A JUVENILE COMMITS A CRIME; (5) PROVISION OF FAMILY COUNSELING TO PARENTS; AND (6) SANCTIONS FOR REFUSAL TO PARTICIPATE, INCLUDING FINANCIAL FINES AND/OR JAIL TERMS. PREREQUISITES OF A FAMILY CRISIS UNIT THAT PROVIDES COUNSELING, WITHIN A SYSTEMS APPROACH, ARE IDENTIFIED, ALONG WITH THE VIEWS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, COURT, AND CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL ABOUT MANDATORY PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT ARE TABULATED. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)