NCJ Number
167218
Journal
Journal of Crime and Justice Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (1996) Pages: 149-166
Date Published
1996
Length
18 pages
Annotation
The significance of legal and extra-legal variables in determining formal dispositions of first-time and repeat juvenile delinquents were studied using data from a random sample of 704 juveniles ages 8-17 from the 10,449 juveniles born in 1969 who had been referred to the Maricopa County (Ariz.) Juvenile court while they were under its jurisdiction.
Abstract
The data came from the National Juvenile Court Data Archive of the National Center for Juvenile Justice. The youths all had 10 or fewer prior referrals and were formally processed. Results revealed that the variables tested did not effectively predict the dispositions of first-time offenders. In addition, the prior disposition was the main determinant of the dispositions of repeat juvenile delinquents. More often than not, repeat delinquents who received dismissals or terminations had previously received the same dispositions. Repeat offenders who were sentenced to confinement were not necessarily charged with a more serious offenses, but they were likely to have more prior formal and informal dispositions. Table, list of cases cited, and 46 references (Author abstract modified)