NCJ Number
52093
Date Published
1974
Length
9 pages
Annotation
CASE EXAMPLES OF PINS (PERSONS IN NEED OF SUPERVISION) ARE CITED IN SUPPORT OF REMOVING STATUS OFFENDERS FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE JUVENILE COURT.
Abstract
PINS ARE CHRONIC TRUANTS, RUNAWAYS, OR INCORRIGIBLE YOUNGSTERS. SOCIETY TYPICALLY RESPONDS TO PINS BY BRINGING THEM BEFORE THE JUVENILE COURT AND THEN COMMITTING THEM TO A STATE TRAINING SCHOOL, WHERE THEY REMAIN FOR MONTHS OR YEARS. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ARE SPENT EVERY YEAR ON EACH OF THESE INCARCERATED YOUTHS, BUT OFTEN THEIR INCARCERATION MAKES THEM A CONTINUING PROBLEM TO THEMSELVES AND TO SOCIETY. A GROWING NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES ARE BEGINNING TO DIVERT YOUNG PINS OUT OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND INTO NONINSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS BETTER EQUIPPED TO HELP THEM. BUT SUCH DIVERSION REQUIRES THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES AND THE UPGRADING OF SCHOOLS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE JUVENILE COURT, BY PROVIDING COMMUNITIES WITH A CONVENIENT DUMPING GROUND FOR EVERY SORT OF YOUTH PROBLEM, HAS IN EFFECT IMPEDED THE SOLUTION OF THESE PROBLEMS. REMOVING YOUNG PINS FROM THE JUVENILE COURT DOUBTLESSLY WOULD EXACERBATE THE DEBATE BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT BEHAVIOR SUCH AS RUNNING AWAY IS THE RESULT OF PERMISSIVE ATTITUDES AND THOSE WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO EXPAND THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN. BUT BY REMOVING YOUNG PINS FROM THE COURT'S JURISDICTION, THE COURT WOULD BE FREE TO DEAL WITH YOUTHS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES, AND COMMUNITIES WOULD BE FORCED EITHER TO PROVIDE THE HELP THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO GROW UP, OR PAY THE PRICE IN DOLLARS AND DAMAGED LIVES. COMMUNITIES ARE URGED TO ESTABLISH YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS IN ORDER TO LINK CHILDREN WITH THE SOCIAL AND HEALTH AGENCIES THAT CAN HELP THEM, MOBILIZE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO DEVELOP YOUTH-RELATED RESOURCES, AND CHANGE PUBLIC ATTITUDES THAT ALIENATE CHILDREN FROM AUTHORITY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)