NCJ Number
39897
Date Published
1976
Length
125 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT IS AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK STATE, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE REFORMS.
Abstract
THE 26 MEMBER PANEL, ORGANIZED IN JUNE 1975, SUBDIVIDED THE STUDY INTO FOUR TASK FORCE INVESTIGATIONS: TO DEFINE THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF JUVENILE VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK, TO EVALUATE THE SUITABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS STATE JUVENILE JUSTICE AGENCIES, AND TO REVIEW THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE POLICY AND PROGRAM STRATEGIES. TASK FORCE I GATHERED INFORMATION FROM STATE AND FEDERAL CRIME REPORTS AND CONCLUDED THAT WHILE JUVENILE VIOLENCE HAS INCREASED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE MEDIA HAVE EXAGGERATED THE INCREASE. TASK FORCE II REJECTED THE CONCEPT OF WAIVING JUVENILES WHO COMMIT CERTAIN VIOLENT CRIMES TO THE ADULT SYSTEM, TAKING THE POSITION THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE JUVENILE SYSTEM IS TO TREAT AND REHABILITATE THE CHILD. TASK FORCE III INTERVIEWED REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL THE STATE JUVENILE JUSTICE AGENCIES AND CONCLUDED THAT THE SYSTEM IS FRAGMENTED, DISORGANIZED, AND AGAINST THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD. TASK FORCE IV REVIEWED JUVENILE PROGRAMS IN MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, MAINE, AND CALIFORNIA. THEY MADE DETAILED COMPARISONS OF THE PROGRAMS AND MEASURED THE FUNCTIONING OF THE NEW YORK JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AGAINST THAT BACKGROUND. THE PANEL AS A WHOLE MADE MANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. COPIOUS STATISTICS APPEAR IN THE APPENDICES...MSP