PROCESSING OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN NEW YORK CITY (NY) THE EARLY EFFECTS OF EXTENDING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY TO 13 TO 15 YEAR OLDS

• NCJ Number: 65419
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 84 pages
• Corporate Author: New York City Criminal Justice Agency, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE REPORT DESCRIBES THE CHARACTERISTICS AND CASE DISPOSITIONS OF JUVENILES ARRESTED UNDER THE NEW YORK CITY LAW WHICH LOWERED THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY.

Abstract

JUVENILES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 15 CHARGED WITH CERTAIN FELONY OFFENSES NOW MAY BE PROSECUTED IN THE ADULT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE STATUTE ALSO PERMITS REMOVAL OF SUCH CASES TO THE FAMILY COURT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AT ANY POINT DURING THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. THE STUDY EXAMINED DATA FROM SEVERAL CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES AND COURTS ON ALL 397 JUVENILE OFFENDERS WHO WERE ARRESTED IN NEW YORK CITY DURING THE 3-MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1978 WHEN THE REVISED LAW BECAME EFFECTIVE. THE REPORT FOLLOWS THE JUDICIAL PROCESS BEGINNING WITH ARREST CHARGES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE OFFENDERS. ACCORDING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY INTERVIEWS WITH 326 OF THE JUVENILES, THE TYPICAL OFFENDER WAS A 15-YEAR-OLD BLACK MALE ARRESTED ON A FIRST OR SECOND DEGREE ROBBERY CHARGE. ARRAIGNMENT DISPOSITIONS AND RELEASE STATUS ARE DESCRIBED FOR EACH BOROUGH. WHEN CASES REACH DISPOSITION BY THE CRIMINAL COURT, ONLY THREE ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE: REMOVAL TO FAMILY COURT, DISMISSAL, OR TRANSFER TO SUPREME COURT. STATISTICS ON THESE DISPOSITIONS ARE PRESENTED ACCORDING TO BOROUGH, ARREST CHARGES, AND RELEASE STATUS AT ARRAIGNMENT AND CRIMINAL COURT APPEARANCE. CITYWIDE, ALMOST 7 OUT OF EVERY 10 JUVENILE ARRESTS DID NOT REACH SUPREME COURT. THESE PROPORTIONS VARIED CONSIDERABLY AMONG THE BOROUGHS. THE CHARGES, LENGTH OF CASE, RELEASE STATUS, AND DISPOSITION FOR JUVENILES SENT TO FAMILY COURT AND SUPREME COURT ARE DISCUSSED IN SEPARATE SECTIONS. THE LENGTH OF DETENTION AND TYPE OF RELEASE SECURED BY THE 125 JUVENILE OFFENDERS HELD IN THE DETENTION CENTER ARE EXAMINED WITH RESPECT TO ARREST CHARGE, AMOUNT OF BAIL BOND AND CASH ALTERNATIVE SET AT ARRAIGNMENT, AND CASE DISPOSITION. FINALLY, THE REPORT ANALYZES THE SMALL NUMBER OF JUVENILES WHO WERE REARRESTED OR FAILED TO APPEAR FOR SCHEDULED COURT ADJOURNMENTS. TABLES ARE USED THROUGHOUT THE TEXT. (MJM)