NCJ Number
51126
Journal
FORENSIC QUARTERLY Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: (1976) Pages: 485-492
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE PRESENT SYSTEM FOR HANDLING JUVENILE OFFENDERS, PARTICULARLY JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS, IS CRITICIZED. REFORMS PROPOSED BY THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY ACT OF 1974 ARE LISTED.
Abstract
AN OVERVIEW IS GIVEN OF THE INCREASE OF JUVENILE CRIME. POINTING OUT THAT PERSONS AGED 10-17 YEARS MAKE UP ONLY 16 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION BUT ACCOUNT FOR 45 PERCENT OF ARRESTS FOR SERIOUS CRIME. THIS IS BLAMED ON UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG TEENAGERS, FAMILY UNEMPLOYMENT, AND SOCIAL INSTABILITY. THESE SOCIAL FACTORS ARE ALSO BLAMED FOR THE RISE IN THE NUMBER OF STATUS OFFENDERS. THE PLIGHT OF THESE STATUS OFFENDERS IS CALLED PARTICULARLY TRAGIC. TESTIMONY BEFORE THE U.S. SUBCOMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY DETAILED CASE AFTER CASE OF CHILDREN WHO HAD COMMITTED NO CRIME MORE SERIOUS THAN RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME OR ARGUING WITH THEIR PARENTS AND YET WERE INCARCERATED IN JAILS OR DETENTION HOMES. THIS PUT THEM IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL HISTORIES, AND ALSO PROVIDED THEM WITH A CRIMINAL HISTORY OF THEIR OWN WHICH OFTEN FOLLOWED THEM INTO ADULT LIFE. GIRLS ARE THE GREATEST VICTIMS OF THIS SYSTEM, BEING INCARCERATED MORE OFTEN AND FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT PROVIDES FEDERAL AID FOR ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION FOR STATUS OFFENDERS, ENABLES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ESTABLISH SHELTERS FOR RUNAWAYS, PULLS FEDERAL PROGRAMS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT A NUMBER OF AGENCIES INTO AN OFFICE OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, AND SPONSORS AN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE. LOCAL COMMUNITIES NEED TO MAKE USE OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO MEET LOCAL PROBLEMS AND RESEARCH NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS NOT AN EXCLUSIVELY MALE PROBLEM. JUVENILE JUSTICE IMPROVEMENT IS CALLED A CHALLENGE THE UNITED STATES CANNOT AFFORD TO IGNORE. (GLR)