NCJ Number
73797
Date Published
1980
Length
143 pages
Annotation
Major papers and conference recommendations from a symposium delinquency problem in Latin America are presented.
Abstract
Conference topics included human rights in the administration of criminal justice, criminal justice planning within the framework of national Latin American development, and training for criminal justice practitioners. Results of the first meeting of the ministers of justice from Central America and Mexico were reported. Other issues raised include theories and practices of correctional discipline, financial support for delinquent youth centers, addiction and alcoholism, children's legal rights, in domestic violence situations and institutional versus alternative community settings for the rehabilitation of delinquent youths. An opinion survey of juvenile justice practitioners is reported and a compendium of crime statistics presented for Latin America and the Caribbean from 1950 to 1977. The coference agreed upon age 18 as the year of majority and the need for delinquency prevention approaches to be developed from programs that diagnose, treat, and research the medical, psychological, and social problems of delinguent minors and their families. Specific recommendations propose less formality in juvenile proceedings, early intervention for treatment and rehabilitation, community treatment centers as alternatives to juvenile instituionalization, and family involvement in treatment programs. Tabular data and a bibliography of about 80 items are supplied. Appendixes contain various texts related to children's rights and the International Year of the Child.