NCJ Number
91426
Date Published
1983
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This report on a nationwide study of transfers of juveniles to adult courts (1978) identifies the types of transfer mechanisms used, presents data on the types of juveniles transferred under each mechanism, reports on the dispositions in adult courts, and identifies the criteria generally used in deciding on transfers.
Abstract
The mechanisms for transfer identified were (1) judicial waiver, which involves a referral under the discretion of the juvenile court; (2) excluded-offenses legislation, which specifies that juveniles charged with certain offenses be automatically tried in adult court; (3) direct filing, which gives the prosecutor the discretion as to whether to bring charges in juvenile or adult court; and (4) legislation which lowers the age of jurisdiction for the criminal court (usually to the ages of 16 or 17). The data on the types of offenders referred to adult court in 1978 indicate that most had not committed serious offenses by any definition of such offenses. The sanctions given in adult court were generally more severe than those that would have been given in adult courts. Questions and answers following the presentation are included.