NCJ Number
17970
Date Published
1973
Length
61 pages
Annotation
STRUCTURE, STAFFING, AND OPERATION OF SERVICES IN THE STATE, COMPARATIVE SERVICES OUTSIDE THE STATE, AND THE PRACTICABILITY OF REALIGNMENT OF SUCH SERVICES ON A REGIONAL BASIS IN PLACE OF A DIVERSIFIED STRUCTURE.
Abstract
JUVENILE PROBATION SERVICES ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE JUVENILE COURTS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THE REPORT INCLUDES A REVIEW OF THE LAW RELATING TO JUVENILES AND THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM. UNDER THE JUDICIAL STRUCTURE LEGAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING JUVENILES MAY COME WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF SEVERAL COURTS WHICH RESULTS IN A FRAGMENTED TREATMENT OF WHAT IS OFTEN A SINGLE FAMILY PROBLEM. DESCRIBED ARE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON PROBATION WHICH SUPERVISES THE PROBATION SERVICE. ALSO DESCRIBED ARE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER, ASSIGNMENTS AND CASELOADS OF PROBATION OFFICERS, PROCEDURES FOR INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS, AS WELL AS PERSONNEL POLICIES, STANDARDS, AND SALARIES. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST RESTRUCTURED SERVICES ARE OUTLINED. PROPONENTS OF A REGIONAL COURT SYSTEM ARGUE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION IS THAT THE COURTS BE EXCLUSIVELY JUVENILE COURTS WHOSE JUDGES AND PROBATION OFFICERS ARE ATTUNED TO THE UNIQUE PROBLEMS OF JUVENILES. THE PRINCIPLE ARGUMENT AGAINST A RESTRUCTURED SYSTEM IS THAT IT COULD FURTHER FRAGMENT AND WEAKEN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, INCREASE COSTS OF OPERATION, AND OFFER NO DEMONSTRABLE BENEFITS IN RETURN. DEFENDERS OF THE DISTRICT COURT STRUCTURE CONTEND THAT JUVENILE CASES CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVELY HANDLED BY THE DISTRICT COURT JUSTICES WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR DISTRICTS THAN BY A CENTRALIZED STATE JUVENILE COURT OR A REGIONAL JUVENILE COURT STRUCTURE. IT IS ADDED THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL GREATER DISTANCES TO REGIONAL COURTS. ONLY A HANDFUL OF STATES HAVE ESTABLISHED CENTRALIZED JUVENILE COURT SYSTEMS WITH EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER JUVENILES.