TOWARD A MORE CREDIBLE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES

• NCJ Number: 35479
• Journal: Juvenile Justice Volume: 27 Issue: 2 Dated: (MAY 1976) Pages: 3-11
• Author(s): P R TAMILIA
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHOR TAKES A LOOK AT THE RISING JUVENILE CRIME RATE, THE CONCEPT OF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION, AND THE RECIPROCAL TREND TOWARDS INCARCERATION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE HARDENED DELINQUENT.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR DISAGREES WITH THE COMMONLY-HELD BELIEFS THAT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ARE CHEAPER AND THAT JUDGES MUST BE RESTRICTED IN THEIR DISPOSITIONAL POWERS IF DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION IS TO OCCUR AND HE CITES SPECIFIC EXAMPLES TO SUPPORT HIS VIEWPOINT. HE MAINTAINS THAT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS AND SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH DETERRENCE AND THAT THE COURTS CAN BE THE MAJOR MEANS OF REDUCING JUVENILE CRIME THROUGH A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO DETERRENCE. SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE COMMITTING THE COURTS TO A PROCESS OF SUPPORTING AND OBTAINING EVERY PROVEN AND NECESSARY MODALITY FROM FOSTER HOMES TO SECURE INSTITUTIONS, SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS WHICH INTERCEPT TROUBLED FAMILIES BEFORE THE PROBLEM RESULTS IN DELINQUENCY, AND PROVIDING FOR A MORE EXTENSIVE EARLY LOCATION AND INTENSIVE TREATMENT OF LEARNING DISABILITIES, HEALTH, AND MENTAL PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN.