NCJ Number
114867
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring/Summer 1988) Pages: 41-56
Date Published
1988
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The records of 558 juveniles sheltered at a short-term residential facility from April 1980 to February 1985 were examined to determine the effect of Senate Bill 623 (MRAI) on status offenders.
Abstract
It was found that the dispositions of clients under the new MRAI legislation were not significantly different from earlier dispositions under the old MINS statute. Judicial circumvention of the Juvenile Court Act, through criminal contempt convictions for non-criminal behavior, is discussed as well as judicial ideological commitments to punishment for truancy and related ideological commitments to punishment for truancy and related status offenses. These commitments represent a major barrier to legislative reform in juvenile justice. (Author abstract)