NCJ Number
102483
Date Published
1986
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The Reagan administration wants to strengthen the family; it emphasizes reducing the Federal role in family policy and allowing States and local juvenile justice agencies to take needed actions.
Abstract
The White House Domestic Policy Council has established a task force to recommend changes in policies, programs, and practices to help support the family. The victimization of children has been one of the unfortunate byproducts of family degeneration. Current government approaches do not appear to be helpful in bolstering family values, however. Society must help support families, but society is not synonymous with government. Society is the private sector, not the public sector. Society's efforts and criminal justice system efforts should focus on four groups: child victims, adult offenders, child witnesses, and potential child victims. State clearinghouses for information collection and dissemination, changed State laws regarding investigating and reporting missing children, stronger sanctions for adult offenders, changed court procedures for child victims, and better training for criminal justice professionals are all needed.