NCJ Number
164006
Date Published
1994
Length
62 pages
Annotation
The 1994 Washington State Legislature determined that the State's juvenile justice system requires "substantial revision" and created a legislative task force to review the system; to assist in this endeavor, this report reviews the major trends in the Nation regarding juvenile justice.
Abstract
One topic of attention in juvenile justice across the Nation is transfer to adult court. Most States now prosecute some juveniles as adults, and nearly half the States have specifically excluded some offenses, as well as youth with particular criminal histories, from juvenile court jurisdiction. Children who run away from home and those who commit acts that would not be criminal offenses if they were committed by adults (status offenders) pose difficult policy choices. Most States comply with the Federal mandate that status offenders not be confined. The increasing seriousness of juvenile crime has caused policymakers to rethink confidentiality laws for juveniles. Also, many States are shifting discretion toward the prosecutor, typically removing the power from probation staff. Washington State implemented this reform in its 1977 law, placing additional responsibilities in the prosecutor's office. States are also focusing attention on the parents of delinquents, as they are trying to force them to act more responsively. Other topics that have received attention throughout the Nation are juvenile facilities and boot camps. Appended supporting data and juvenile justice systems in seven States, a 34-item bibliography, and 7 tables