NCJ Number
85540
Date Published
1981
Length
35 pages
Annotation
The Minnesota Governor's Task Force on Juvenile Justice presents recommendations related to only those juveniles who have committed criminal offenses. Addressing apprehension, prosecution, diversion, detention, court procedures, and dispositions, the recommendations emphasize due process, consistency, community and family involvement, and offender accountability.
Abstract
Recommendations focus on giving juvenile the same safeguards available to adults in the criminal justice system for preliminary investigations, the arrest process, search and seizure, questioning, pretrial identification, and prehearing detention and release. Recommendations include limiting secure detention to those juveniles who are considered dangerous to others or who have a history of not appearing for court hearings, having a uniform rule of procedure in all juvenile Minnesota courts, and basing disposition guidelines on a concept of proportionality which considers the juvenile's criminal history and the seriousness of the offense. Other recommendations pertain to developing a specific treatment plan for juveniles referred to a residential or day treatment program within 30 days of disposition, other court policy and procedure changes, and legislative and administrative actions. The Juvenile Justice Task Force Executive Order, a glossary of terms, a demographic profile of Minnesota's juvenile population, tables, Task Force members, and 27 references are included.