System Processing of Violent Juvenile Offenders - An Empirical Assessment (From Violent Juvenile Offenders - An Anthology, P 117-136, 1984, Robert A Mathias et al, ed. - See NCJ-95108)

• NCJ Number: 95169
• Author(s): J A Fagan; E Hartstone; C J Rudman; K V Hansen
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): 80-JN-AX-0006; 82-MU-AX-0003
• Sponsoring Agency: US Securities and Exchange Cmssn
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Earlier version presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western Society of Criminology, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 1983. Available on microfiche as NCJ-95108.

Annotation

An examination of processing by the juvenile justice systems in six urban areas of 550 youths charged with violent offenses shows a need for changes in such processing.

Abstract

The practices of plea bargaining, undercharging, waiver, suspended adjudication, and collapsing petitions combined to undermine the ability of the juvenile justice systems to identify and sanction chronically violent offenders. These practices do not serve the interests of the public or the youths. However, they are well entrenched because of few incentives to change and a shortage of resources for services to violent offenders. The juvenile justice system must make every effort to provide accountability as well as quality treatment and services to these youths. Appropriate dispositional alternatives for violent offenders must be fashioned. First, a definition must be devised which links empirical knowledge with special measures and ethical concerns. Second, the definition must be operationalized and implemented so that charges are specified and adjudicated. Finally, resources and alternatives must be created. Tables, footnotes, and 14 references are provided.