NCJ Number
59690
Date Published
1977
Length
23 pages
Annotation
CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTCOMES FOR JUVENILES REMANDED TO ADULT COURT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY UNDER SECTION 707 OF CALIFORNIA'S WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE ARE ASSESSED.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION IS BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF ALL 184 SECTION 107 REMAND CASES DURING THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 1976. OVER 85 PERCENT OF THE STUDY SUBJECTS WERE MALE. CLOSE TO HALF WERE WHITE, 20 PERCENT WERE BLACK, AND 30 PERCENT WERE MEXICAN-AMERICANS (INCLUDING REMANDED ILLEGAL ALIENS). OF THE 184 REMAND CASES STUDIED, 39 PERCENT HAD BEEN WARDS OF THE JUVENILE COURT AND 73 PERCENT HAD NO PRIOR 707 ACTIONS. ROBBERY, BURGLARY, AND ASSAULT AND BATTERY TOGETHER ACCOUNTED FOR 40 PERCENT OF ALL CASES; THEFT OFFENSES FOR 21 PERCENT; AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL CHARGES (INCLUDING DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED) FOR 17 PERCENT. CONVICTIONS RESULTED IN 72 PERCENT OF THE CASES, WHILE 20 PERCENT ENDED IN NONPROSECUTION, DISMISSAL, OR ACQUITTAL. FORMAL PROBATION OR INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT WAS THE SENTENCE IN 43 PERCENT OF THE CASES. THERE WAS A HIGH INCIDENCE OF CHARGE REDUCTIONS AND PLEA BARGAINING. AGE WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN JUVENILE COURT REMAND ACTIONS, BUT NOT IN SUBSEQUENT ADULT COURT ACTIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT MINORS REMANDED TO ADULT COURT GENERALLY EXPERIENCE NO MORE SEVERE RESPONSE TO THEIR OFFENSES THAN WOULD BE POSSIBLE IN JUVENILE COURT. IT IS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS A CUSTODIAL ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUTHS AGED 16 THROUGH 18. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE: A REVIEW OF POLICY REGARDING TERMINATION OF JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION, ESTABLISHMENT OF A MEDIUM-SECURITY FACILITY FOR YOUTHS AGED 16 THROUGH 18, AND TO FACILITATE FOLLOWUP, CREATION OF A SYSTEM FOR RECORDING ADULT COURT NUMBERS ASSIGNED TO REMAND CASES. SUPPORTING DATA AND A SUMMARY ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)