NCJ Number
137052
Date Published
1992
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The president of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) discusses Federal juvenile justice policy and recommends policy directions for the next several years.
Abstract
Juvenile crime, especially violent crime, is now rising, after declines during the late 1970's and early 1980's. In addition, the increase in the youth population and in children reared in poverty by fractured families will both further increase the volume of juvenile crime. The current fiscal crisis of State and local governments has impeded their efforts to address the problem of juvenile crime. Therefore, the Federal juvenile justice program and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) are crucial to the effort. Current juvenile justice policies focus on removing minors from adult jails, improving community-based services for juvenile status offenders, supporting research and demonstration efforts to prevent delinquency, and reducing the high rates of minority incarceration. During the next several years, OJJDP should consolidate and institutionalize existing reforms. Other recommended efforts include improving the assessment and diagnostic capacities of juvenile justice agencies, expanding the use of risk screening models, restricting juvenile court waivers, and strengthening the Federal juvenile justice program.