UNRULY CHILD AND THE LAW - TOWARD A FOCUS ON THE FAMILY

• NCJ Number: 7535
• Journal: Juvenile Justice Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1972) Pages: 9-12
• Author(s): A R GOUGH; M A GRILLI
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EXAMINATION OF THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR A NEW APPROACH TO HANDLING TROUBLED CHILDREN, FOCUSING ON PROVIDING COUNSELING FOR THE CHILD'S FAMILY.

Abstract

CHILDREN WHO ARE INCORRIGIBLE, UNRULY OR BEYOND PARENTAL CONTROL BUT COMMIT NO ACT AGAINST THE CRIMINAL LAW ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT ONE THIRD OF JUVENILE COURT ADJUDICATIONS. NEARLY HALF THE STATES MAKE NO DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THESE CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIMINAL ACTS. THE AUTHORS FEEL THAT SUCH CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO COURT, BUT SHOULD BE HANDLED BY SOME FORM OF SHORT-TERM CRISIS-ORIENTED PROGRAM WHICH WOULD NOT INVOLVE THE STIGMA OF LABELLING THE CHILD AS A DELINQUENT. THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR A NEW JURISDICTIONAL CONCEPT, FAMILY IN NEED OF SERVICE. THIS COULD PROVIDE THE COURT WITH A DIRECT JURISDICTIONAL TIE TO THE PARENTS AND DIRECT THE FOCUS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, IN THE CASE OF DEPRIVED AND UNRULY CHILDREN, TO THE FAMILY UNIT.