NCJ Number
168941
Date Published
1997
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the state of California's juvenile justice system and includes recommendations of a blue ribbon task force created to examine juvenile justice system issues.
Abstract
California's juvenile justice system is comprised of several systems, programs, and organizations designed to serve the needs of juvenile offenders and to protect public safety. The juvenile justice system is primarily a local responsibility. County probation departments supervise 97 percent of all juvenile offenders; the remaining 3 percent are committed to the Department of Youth Authority. Arrest statistics indicate juveniles were responsible for 16 percent of all arrests in 1994, the most recent year for which data are available. While the juvenile arrest rate for violent crime has increased 63 percent since 1985, the rate has actually declined since 1994. California has taken various steps to deal with juvenile crime. In 1997, funds totaling more than $500 million were allocated to support juvenile crime prevention and intervention programs. The blue ribbon task force on juvenile justice system issues noted a lack of comprehensive leadership in California's juvenile justice system; recommended a single department or agency be created with responsibility for oversight, planning, development, and coordination of juvenile justice policies and programs; recommended the State embrace the concept of balanced and restorative justice; made several recommendations related to juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention programs and juvenile court reform; identified juvenile justice system data deficiencies; and recommended the provision of integrated services to juveniles using a multiagency approach. 1 figure