Violent Juvenile Offenders (From From Children to Citizens, V 2 - The Role of the Juvenile Court, P 128-142, 1987, Francis X Hartmann, ed. - See NCJ-106014)

• NCJ Number: 106020
• Author(s): D Hamparian
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Springer-Verlag
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

Between 1960 and 1975, juvenile arrests increased nearly 300 percent, with the largest increase being in violent juvenile crime.

Abstract

While violent and chronic juvenile offenders account for only a small percentage of the juvenile population, they are responsible for a majority of the arrests, are most likely to become adult felony offenders, and account for a majority of adult arrests. Those most likely to make the transition from juvenile to adult crime are likely to have been arrested at age 12 or less, to have been chronic or Index violent offenders, to have been committed to a State correctional facility, and to have been rearrested at 16 or 17. Several States have made it easier to transfer such offenders to criminal courts, and many have developed specialized placements for juveniles tried as adults and young adult offenders. Other States have adopted determinate sentencing policies for these offenders. There is no evidence that these alternatives have a positive effect on the youth involved. One option that does seem to help has been the use of specialized juvenile justice programming offering assessment, secure care, and transition and community living phases. 8 endnotes and 16 references.