NCJ Number
63200
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 58 Issue: 8 Dated: (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 500-509
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
ARGUMENTS FOR THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENSES ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, HAS ARGUED FOR THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENSES AND THE CONSEQUENT REMOVAL OF NONCRIMINAL JUVENILE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE JUVENILE COURT. THIS POSITION IS BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF STUDIES SHOWING NOT ONLY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TYPICAL JUVENILE COURT INTERVENTION IN REMEDYING DEVIANT JUVENILE BEHAVIOR BUT THE HARM DONE BY THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS, WHO IN MANY INSTANCES ARE CONFINED FOR LONGER PERIODS THAN JUVENILES COMMITTED FOR DELINQUENCY OFFENSES. INFLUENTIAL GROUPS OPPOSING THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENSES ARE JUVENILE JUDGES AND SOCIAL SERVICES PERSONNEL. THESE GROUPS ARGUE THAT MANY JUVENILES REQUIRE COERCIVE INTERVENTION SO THEIR INTRACTABLE BEHAVIOR CAN BE CONFRONTED TO PREVENT MORE SERIOUS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE FACT REMAINS, HOWEVER, THAT THE ACTIONS OF THE JUVENILE COURTS HAVE PROVEN TO BE MORE DETRIMENTAL THAN HELPFUL TO TROUBLED YOUTH, AND THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THIS CIRCUMSTANCE WILL CHANGE. THE REMOVAL OF NONDELINQUENT JUVENILES FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT WILL FORCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE NONCOERCIVE PROGRAMS WHOSE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN FORESTALLED BY THE CONVENIENCE OF COURT REFERRAL. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)