NCJ Number
43747
Date Published
Unknown
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN PENNSYLVANIA IS DESCRIBED AND JUVENILE CASELOAD CLASSIFICATION AND SUPERVISION APPROACHES ARE SUGGESTED IN A REPORT BY A PENNSYLVANIA JUVENILE COURT JUDGES' COMMISSION TASK FORCE.
Abstract
AN INTAKE DECISIONMAKING TOOL RELATES SEVEN GOALS TO FIVE DECISION OPTIONS AVAILABLE AT INTAKE: DISMISSAL; INFORMAL ADJUSTMENT; CONSENT DECREE; PROBATION; AND COMMITMENT/PLACEMENT. THE GOALS CONCERN EXPOSURE OF THE JUVENILE TO THE SYSTEM, MOBILIZATION OF INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESOURCES, INTERVENTION IN SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT, DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE, PROTECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE INDIVIDUAL, INTERVENTION IN EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT AND CONTROL, AND INTERVENTION IN PEER RELATIONSHIPS. APPLICATION OF THE GOALS TO THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS AT INTAKE AND AT OTHER POINTS IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS INTENDED TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND OBJECTIVITY OF THE SYSTEM. A SECOND TABLE, DESIGNED TO GUIDE DISPOSITION DECISIONS BY THE JUVENILE COURT DEFINES BEHAVIORAL INDEXES FOR EACH DISPOSITION OPTION ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR; FAMILY STRUCTURE; SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT; NATURE OF OFFENSE; THREAT TO SELF AND/OR FAMILY; EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT AND CONTROL; ATTITUDE TOWARD CURRENT SITUATION; PEER GROUP RELATIONSHIPS; AND CLIENT RESPONSE. THE SAME FACTORS ARE INCORPORATED INTO A THIRD TABLE WHICH CLASSIFIES THE BEHAVIOR OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS AS FOLLOWS: SITUATIONAL; SUBCULTURAL IDENTIFIER; NEUROTIC; MANIPULATOR/ANTISOCIAL; CONFORMIST; OR ASOCIAL. THE BEHAVIORAL CLASSIFICATION IS TO BE USED IN DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION APPROACH FOR EACH CASE. AN INTERVIEW GUIDE DESIGNED TO ASSIST PROBATION OFFICERS IN GATHERING THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO APPLY THE BEHAVIORAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM IS PRESENTED.