NCJ Number
61271
Date Published
1979
Length
32 pages
Annotation
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, JUVENILE CRIME STATISTICS FROM 1975-1978, AND INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM IN ARIZONA ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
DATA ANALYSIS FOCUSES ON PROPERTY OFFENSES (BURGLARY, LARCENY, AND MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT) AND STATUS OFFENSES (CURFEW VIOLATION, RUNAWAYS, AND LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS) IN ARIZONA. THE REPORT IS DESIGNED FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM MANY SOURCES, INCLUDING THE ARIZONA UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS, TELEPHONE AND MAIL SURVEYS, AND AGENCY SUMMARIES AND REPORTS. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PERFORMS MANY DIVERSE FUNCTIONS INCLUDING POLICE PROTECTION, JUDICIAL SERVICES, PROSECUTION, PUBLIC DEFENSE, AND CORRECTIONS. THE JUVENILE DIVISIONS HAVE A REHABILITATIVE ORIENTATION; IN 1976, ARIZONA OFFICIALLY COMMITTED ITSELF TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOALS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974. A JUVENILE TYPICALLY ENTERS THE SYSTEM THROUGH A NEGLECT OR ABUSE REPORT OR BY COMMITTING A STATUS OR CRIMINAL OFFENSE. JUVENILE ARRESTS REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE TOTAL ARRESTS MADE IN ARIZONA FROM 1975 THROUGH 1978. OF THESE ARRESTS, 40 PERCENT WERE FOR PROPERTY OFFENSES, 25 PERCENT FOR STATUS OFFENSES, AND 6 PERCENT FOR NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS. OF THE JUVENILES ARRESTED IN 1978 76 PERCENT WERE MALE, WITH THE MOST COMMON AGE BEING 16 OR 17 YEARS, AND 87 PERCENT WERE REFERRED TO THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM. COMPONENTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THE COURTS, PROBATION SERVICES, DETENTION FACILITIES, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. TABULAR STATISTICAL DATA AND GRAPHS ARE INCLUDED, AND OFFENSE PROJECTIONS BY COUNTY ARE APPENDED. (LWM)