NCJ Number
78395
Journal
Howard Journal of Penology and Crime Prevention Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (1981) Pages: 81-89
Date Published
1981
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The emergence of the British Government's White Paper directed against the policy and practice of the 1969 Children and Young Persons Act is discussed, and the likely outcome of its proposals is assessed.
Abstract
The White Paper represents a prevalent concern about what is perceived as an increase in serious crimes committed by juveniles. The Children and Young Persons Act of 1969 is viewed as ineffective in dealing with the hard core of delinquent children and as having substituted care and treatment for punishment of young offenders. While this is deemed to have worked for many youth, it is believed to have led the hard core offenders to commit crime with impunity, convinced that the courts will do little to stop them. Although the White Paper supports the need to continue to develop community-based alternatives for children and youth, the primary emphasis is on custodial and residential treatment, with a view toward rehabilitating hard core offenders in controlled environments. There is, however, no guidance in the White Paper for determining the characteristics or circumstances of the children and youth who will be so confined. It seems likely that more rather than less problem children and youth will be contacting the juvenile court and that more of these will be institutionalized. The sense of crisis and powerlessness about juvenile crime under the 1969 Act, though sharply felt, has little solid statistical support. The rate of recorded crime for both the 10-14 and 14-17 age groups has leveled off, and the rate of increase of recorded juvenile crime has not been greater than the rate of adults over the past decade. The juvenile courts already have extensive powers to deal with juveniles deemed hard core offenders. Seven notes and 23 references are listed.