NCJ Number
27102
Date Published
1972
Length
511 pages
Annotation
DETAILED STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF FRENCH JUVENILE COURTS IN DETERMINING THE NEED FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH REFERS TO COURT-ORDERED MEASURES FOR THE PHYSICAL OR MORAL PROTECTION OF MINORS.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS BASED ON THE COURT RECORDS OF 1762 CASES INVOLVING 3600 MINORS IN A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF 26 JUVENILE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1968. ALSO USED IN THE STUDY WAS A QUESTIONNAIRE SENT TO ALL JUVENILE JUDGES IN FRANCE REGARDING THEIR PRACTICES IN REACHING A DECISION IN SUCH CASES. STATISTICS ON THE SAMPLE OF CASES COVER THE PERSONAL, MEDICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MINORS AS WELL AS THE PROBLEMS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COURT. THIS DATA IS CORRELATED WITH DATA ON THE CRITERIA USED IN MOVING THE CASE THROUGH THE VARIOUS STAGES OF THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. THE STUDY SEPARATELY EXAMINES THE DECISIONS OF THE COURT WHETHER TO ORDER A MEASURE AND THE DECISIONS WHETHER THE MINOR'S NEEDS ARE IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, SAFETY, MORALS, OR EDUCATION. SEVENTY PERCENT OF THE MINORS IN THE STUDY WERE LEFT IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT BY THE COURT. INCLUDED ARE STATISTICAL TABLES ON ALL DATA COLLECTED, FULL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE METHODOLOGIES USED, AND A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE SENT TO JUVENILE JUDGES. --IN FRENCH