NCJ Number
172423
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The Teaching Responsibility and Accountability to Children Act of 1997 proposes initial intake screenings and the use of youth development specialists in Federal juvenile proceedings and encourages State and local governments to use similar procedures.
Abstract
Title I of the bill stipulates that, before any decision is made to proceed against the juvenile as a juvenile, to prosecute the juvenile as an adult, or to refer the juvenile to State authorities, an appropriate Federal authority must perform an initial intake screening to determine if the juvenile is an at- risk juvenile. If the juvenile is determined to be at risk, he or she must be referred to a youth development specialist. If the juvenile is referred to State authorities for further proceedings or is transferred for prosecution as an adult, results of the intake screening must be promptly made available to authorities to which the juvenile is transferred. The bill contains guidelines on how to determine if a juvenile is at risk, based on factors in the juvenile's development that involve school behavior and performance, family problems, drug abuse, runaway tendencies, previous delinquent activities, and gang participation. The act defines a youth development specialist as a person designated by the court to carry out the following duties: (1) determine a course of action for the juvenile that will prevent continued criminal activity and help the juvenile successfully reintegrate into community and school settings; (2) monitor the juvenile's progress through the court system; (3) act as a liaison to the juvenile's family and community and work with the juvenile's attorney; and (4) maintain contact with the juvenile during custody, court proceedings, and incarceration and after release. Title II outlines a grant program for at-risk juveniles.