NCJ Number
25681
Date Published
1974
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE CONCEPT OF A SOCIAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR JUVENILES (SJSJ) IS EXAMINED, AND THE ROLE OF COMPUTERS IN OPERATING AND EVALUATING AN SJSJ IS OUTLINED.
Abstract
THE CURRENT ABUSES OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS INHERENT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE OUTLINED. THE AUTHOR PROPOSES A SOCIAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR JUVENILES, WHICH WOULD CONSIST OF A GROUP OF ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES FOCUSED ON THE COMMON PURPOSE OF MEETING NEEDS OF TROUBLED YOUTH. IT WOULD THUS COMBINE THE COMPONENTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND REHABILITATIVE SYSTEM. OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO THE CONCEPT OF THE SJSJ IS A CONCERN FOR THE RIGHTS OF JUVENILES. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT A COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR THE SJSJ WOULD HAVE THREE TYPES OF DATA FILES - CASE MANAGEMENT, ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSIS, AND REFERRAL DATA. THESE FILES MAY BE INTERFACED TO BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE DATA BASE ON JUVENILES. THE ADVANTAGES OF SUCH A SYSTEM ARE LISTED. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE DATA SECURITY AND THE RIGHT OF JUVENILES AND PARENTS TO REVIEW AND CONTEST INFORMATION IN THIS INFORMATION SYSTEM AND TO LIMIT UNNECESSARY DATA COLLECTION.