NCJ Number
49526
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
INTAKE INFORMATION BASED ON THE NUMBER OF CASES AND THE KINDS OF COMPLAINTS ENTERING THE VIRGINIA JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS ANALYZED TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THE 1977 REVISIONS TO THE JUVENILE CODE.
Abstract
A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT PROVISIONS WERE CONTAINED IN THE REVISION OF THE JUVENILE CODE, INCLUDING DIRECTIVES THAT ALL COMPLAINTS FOR THE JUVENILE COURT WOULD BEGIN IN THE COURT SERVICES INTAKE UNIT, AND THAT A CATEGORY OF 'CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES' WOULD BE DESIGNATED WITH SPECIFIC COURT DISPOSITIONS ENUMERATED. THE JAILING OF THESE CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES WAS PROHIBITED, THEIR DETENTION WAS LIMITED TO 72 HOURS, AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE STATE BOARD OF CORRECTIONS WAS BANNED. THE JAILING OF DELINQUENT CHILDREN WAS LIMITED ACCORDING TO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, AND THE AGE OF DELINQUENTS LIABLE FOR COMMITTAL WAS RESTRICTED. INFORMATION COLLECTED AT VARIOUS POINTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR A 6-MONTH PERIOD IN 1976 WAS COMPARED TO SIMILAR INFORMATION IN THE CORRESPONDING 6-MONTH PERIOD IN 1977 IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THE REVISIONS. DATA ON THE POINTS OF COMPARISON ARE PRESENTED. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF COURT SERVICES INTAKES AND IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DIVERSIONS DURING INTAKE FOR THE PERIOD FOLLOWING THE REVISIONS. DECREASES HAD OCCURRED IN THE INCIDENCES OF JUVENILES IN JAIL AND IN DETENTION, IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES RECEIVED AT INTAKE, AND IN THE NUMBER OF COMMITMENTS. THERE WAS ALSO A DECREASE NOTED IN THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES, ALTHOUGH IT WAS STILL IN EXCESS OF THE PRESCRIBED 72 HOURS. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS STATISTICAL DATA CONCERNING THE COMPLAINTS AT INTAKE AND THE INTAKE DECISIONS BY REGION. DATA ON THE CHILDREN DETAINED BY DETENTION PROGRAMS ARE ALSO INCLUDED. (DAG)