COMMUNITY AND BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES TO DELINQUENCY THE COURT'S PERSPECTIVE

• NCJ Number: 13738
• Journal: Juvenile Justice Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1973) Pages: 19-24
• Author(s): J P STEKETEE
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER DELIVERED AT THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION MEETING, MONTREAL, AUGUST 1973.

Annotation

DISCUSSES THE USE OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION BY THE JUVENILE COURT IN THE INTEREST OF THE WELFARE OF A DELINQUENT YOUTH.

Abstract

COMMENTS ARE MADE ON THE JUDGE'S RESPONSIBILITY IN JUVENILE COURT. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THE JUVENILE COURT SHOULD BE MORE INTERESTED IN THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD THAN IN THE RESOLUTION OF QUESTIONS OF FACT. HE ADVISES THE USE OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AND OTHER BEHAVIORAL CONCEPTS AND TECHNIQUES IN DEALING WITH DELINQUENTS. BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION ALLOWS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A SOUND AND EXPLICIT TREATMENT PLAN, FOLLOWING WHICH A MORE RELIABLE EVALUATION OF OUTCOME APPEARS POSSIBLE. ADOPTION OF A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION MODE PERMITS COMMITMENT FROM CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND SCHOOL TO ATTACK MUTUALLY-IDENTIFIED TARGET BEHAVIORS AND TO TEST THE WORKABILITY OF A TREATMENT PLAN. THE AUTHOR NOTES THE NEED TO STAY WITHIN THE CHILD'S RIGHTS WHEN DECIDING ON A TREATMENT PLAN.