FOR THE SALVATION OF CHILDREN' - THE SEARCH FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES (FROM CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1975, BY J A GARDINER & M A MULKEY - SEE NCJ-37751)

• NCJ Number: 37758
• Author(s): J W DOIG
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: D C Heath and Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE HISTORY OF, RATIONALE FOR, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

JUVENILE COURTS WERE CREATED AND GIVEN BROAD POWERS TO DIVERT THE JUVENILE OFFENDER FROM THE RIGORS OF ADULT CORRECTIONS AND TO ARREST THE JUVENILE'S PROGRESS TOWARDS A LIFE OF CRIME AT AN EARLY STAGE. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE LATTER, A CATEGORY OF VAGUE JUVENILE STATUS OFFENSES WAS DEVELOPED TO ENHANCE THE DISCRETIONARY POWERS OF THE JUVENILE COURT. HOWEVER, THIS ALSO RESULTED IN LOSS OR ABROGATION OF RIGHTS AND PROCEDURES BY JUVENILES. TWO DIRECTIONS ARE POSSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE. ONE INVOLVES THE EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY BASED CORRECTIONS AND A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION OF THE ROLE OF THE COURT. THE OTHER WOULD BE TO REDUCE THE EXTENT OF COERCIVE INTERVENTION IN THE LIVES OF JUVENILES BY ELIMINATING JUVENILE STATUS OFFENSES AND BY TRYING JUVENILES ON THE OFFENSE COMMITTED, NOT ITS UNDERLYING CAUSES.