NCJ Number
85017
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 55 Issue: 3 Dated: (July-September 1982) Pages: 279-284
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
In the English counties of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, young first offenders are given a police caution, and second and subsequent offenders are prosecuted in a juvenile court; however, some flexibility is permitted according to the specific circumstances of the case.
Abstract
Because the majority of detected juvenile first offenders were found to have committed minor crimes, a task force of police, probation, education, and social service representatives, recommended and saw adopted a county law enforcement policy of cautioning first offenders. The social services agreed that the police need not consult them before or after the caution except in cases where a social problem with the youth or his/her family is indicated. This requires the police to conduct sufficient background investigations to determine if social problems do exist. Where second and subsequent offenders are involved with the police, consultation with social services automatically follows. The effectiveness of the procedures depends upon the police investigating the circumstances of the offense and any others the youth may have committed, as well as the youth's personal and family background. The procedure also requires that officers provide full reports in each case which objectively detail the circumstances of the offense and the offender. The effectiveness of the process also depends upon the officer involved in each case taking an active part in the decisionmaking bearing upon the disposition of a case. Overall, the process is designed to ensure that both the young offender and the public are protected from severely destructive experiences. Eight references are listed.