STUDY OF POLICE SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN A RURAL WISCONSIN COUNTY

• NCJ Number: 59408
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 56 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1965) Pages: 257-259
• Author(s): K L SHIMOTA
• Date Published: 1965
• Length: 3 pages
• Corporate Author: Williams and Wilkins Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE METHODS, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF A STUDY OF POLICE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND JUVENILES IN RURAL SAUK COUNTY, WIS., IN THE EARLY 1960'S ARE SUMMARIZED.

Abstract

THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BY A TEAM FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE'S DIVISION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AT THE REQUEST OF THE SAUK COUNTY SHERIFF AND JUVENILE COURT JUDGE. THE STUDY TEAM INTERVIEWED THE ADMINISTRATORS OF ALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS WELFARE DEPARTMENT CASEWORKERS WHO PROVIDED SERVICES TO THE JUVENILE COURT. THE TEAM PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO POLICE INVESTIGATIVE, DISCRETIONARY, AND RECORDKEEPING PRACTICES AS REFLECTED IN JUVENILE CASE REPORTS. THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED: (1) LACK OF POLICE PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO CHILDREN; (2) INADEQUATE POLICE INVESTIGATIONS, QUESTIONABLE DISPOSITIONS, AND POOR RECORDKEEPING IN CASES INVOLVING ALLEGEDLY DELINQUENT CHILDREN; (3) A LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT, SCHOOL, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND COURT AGENCIES; AND (4) A NEED FOR IN-SERVICE POLICE TRAINING IN CHILD PROTECTION AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION. PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY POLICE IN HANDLING CASES OF ALLEGED CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT WERE RECOMMENDED, AS WAS BETTER ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD LABOR LAWS. POLICE TRAINING IN REPORT WRITING AND IN REFERRAL TECHNIQUES WAS ADVISED, AND DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING DEPARTMENTAL RECORDKEEPING PRACTICES WERE OFFERED. THE STUDY TEAM RECOMMENDED THE CREATION OF A JUVENILE OFFICER POSITION IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING ALL JUVENILE CASES IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ASSISTING POLICE DEPARTMENTS AT THEIR REQUEST, IMPROVING THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT'S RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM, PROVIDING LIAISON AMONG AGENCIES WORKING WITH JUVENILES, ORGANIZING INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND PROMOTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF POLICE AND THE LAW BY CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS.