NCJ Number
128166
Date Published
1989
Length
338 pages
Annotation
This book highlights the police role and functions in working with juveniles and components of the juvenile justice system and discusses links between community agencies, courts, correctional agencies, and the police.
Abstract
Juvenile crime generally decreased during the 1980's; from 1976 to 1985, juvenile arrests declined from 1.7 to 1.4 million, a 17.6-percent reduction. For serious offenses, juvenile arrests decreased by 20.8 percent. Forcible rape, however, increased by 17.2 percent. Also during the 1980's rehabilitation seemed to be de-emphasized, although probation was awarded when possible instead of incarcerating juvenile offenders. From 1983 to 1985, the number of juveniles confined increased by 1 percent, from 48,701 to 49,322. In examining the police role with juveniles and the juvenile justice system, the book specifically looks at the law and legal proceedings, delinquency theories, delinquency prevention, juvenile courts and probation services, teenage suicide, the law enforcement response to Satanism, child abuse and neglect, child sexual exploitation, vandalism, and juvenile gangs. The book also discusses police policies and the exercise of discretion, police administrative organization and operations, reports and records, interviewing, the use of forensic hypnosis in law enforcement interviews, and State programming for juveniles. Endnotes, tables, and figures