NCJ Number
40922
Journal
Criminal Justice Abstracts Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1977) Pages: 91-122
Date Published
1977
Length
22 pages
Annotation
IN OCTOBER 1974, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY (NCCD) ADOPTED A POLICY ADVOCATING REMOVAL OF JUVENILE STATUS OFFENSES FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE JUVENILE COURT.
Abstract
THE FACT THAT THE WISCONSIN COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE STANDARDS PROJECT, AND THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS ALSO FAVOR ABOLISHING JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION OVER STATUS OFFENSES LENDS WEIGHT TO THE NCCD POLICY. THE PROJECTS, FUNDED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION (OJJDP) DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS PROGRAMS, ARE DEVELOPING THE PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SERIOUSLY TROUBLED STATUS OFFENDERS. THE SUCCESS OF THAT PROGRAM, ALONG WITH OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, WILL ANSWER OBJECTIONS TO THE NCCD POLICY CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES FOR THOSE STATUS OFFENDERS WHO NEED HELP. THE TREND TOWARDS PLANNED COORDINATION OF NON-COERCIVE COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ASSIST IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAS ALSO PROVED SIGNIFICANT. THE SEPARATE LEGAL CATEGORY (PINS) APPROACH HAS FAILED TO ASSURE THAT A JUVENILE WHO COMMITTED A STATUS OFFENSE WILL BE HANDLED SEPARATELY AND DIFFERENTLY FROM A JUVENILE WHO HAS COMMITTED A CRIMINAL LAW OFFENSE. EVEN WHEN THE SEPARATE CATEGORY APPROACH IS SUCCESSFUL, THE RESULT IS THAT THOUSANDS OF JUVENILES ARE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND PROCESSED THROUGH THE JUVENILE COURTS FOR BEHAVIOR WHICH WOULD NOT BRING AN ADULT INTO CONFLICT WITH THE LAW. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...ELW