MYTHS AND REALITIES IN THE SEARCH FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE

• NCJ Number: 25644
• Journal: RESOLUTION OF CORRECTIONAL PROBLEMS AND ISSUES Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1975) Pages: 9-15
• Author(s): J W POLIER
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-TA-99-0005
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: South Carolina Dept of Corrections
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE MYTHS IN THIS ARTICLE REFER TO THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE ABOUT JUVENILE JUSTICE; THE REALITIES ARE THAT THE RIGHTS OF JUVENILES TO DUE PROCESS, PRIVACY, AND EQUAL PROTECTION ARE OFTEN ABROGATED.

Abstract

THE FIRST MISCONCEPTION IS THAT SPECIALIZED JUVENILE OR FAMILY COURTS FUNCTION THROUGHOUT ALL OUT STATES WHEN, IN FACT, THEY GENERALLY EXIST ONLY IN LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS. OTHER MYTHS ARE THAT JUVENILE COURTS DEAL PRIMARILY WITH CHILDREN IN NEED OF SUPERVISION; THAT STATUS OFFENDERS ARE LITTLE MORE THAN TRUANTS OR DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS ARE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISCIPLINING THEM: AND THAT MENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN WILL BE IDENTIFIED BY THE JUVENILE COURT AND GIVEN SPECIAL SERVICES. THE NONPROVISION OF SERVICES TO THESE CHILDREN IS DISCUSSED IN THE LIGHT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN AND THE POWER OF THE COURTS TO COMPEL AGENCIES TO PROVIDE SERVICES.