NCJ Number
148691
Date Published
1993
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Based on the author's own field work, this study compares the policing of juveniles in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and Western Australia.
Abstract
Western Australia tends to deal with most juvenile offenders similarly, that is, through a punitive court system. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France, juvenile justice systems have a series of filters, or "gateways," which recognize that juveniles must be managed in a variety of ways based on their characteristics and needs. At gateway 1, police and parents are the gatekeepers. They work with the victims and families. Parents take responsibility where appropriate, with police help. Gateway 2 is for that child who repeats problem behaviors or is exhibiting problems that need additional intervention. In this case, the gatekeepers are the police, parents, and support agencies where appropriate. These first two gateways are designed for use by the police in conjunction with the parents and the community. Gateway 3 is the court or pre-court programs operated by the courts or a multiagency team. Not only is support offered but sanctions can be and are applied. This gateway is for juveniles who have not profited from intervention at the first two gateways. Gateway 4 is the compulsory use of the court system because of the seriousness of the offense or the nature of the offender. The series of gateways prevents the wholesale use of expensive formal and largely ineffective court systems, when in most cases police- initiated, community-supported options will have a quicker, more effective, and less expensive response. 3 references