CONTIGENCIES IN THE CAREERS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS, DECISION MAKING IN JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS

• NCJ Number: 40761
• Author(s): D B CHEIN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 245 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

RESULTS OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE WHAT CRITERIA ARE USED BY AGENTS OF SOCIAL CONTROL IN DECIDING HOW TO DEAL WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

Abstract

THE PARTICULAR FOCUS OF THE STUDY IS ON DECISIONMAKING WITHIN JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE AMBIGUITY OF DELINQUENCY STATUTES AND THE WIDE DISCRETIONARY POWERS GIVEN TO AGENTS OF SOCIAL CONTROL WHO APPLY SOCIETAL SANCTIONS TO DELINQUENTS MEANS THAT THE DELINQUENT IS NOT BEING JUDGED SOLELY ON HIS ACTIONS, BUT ON OTHER CRITERIA THAT THESE AGENTS DEEM RELEVANT. INSTITUTION STAFF ARE GIVEN THE TASK OF DECIDING WHETHER TO DETAIN JUVENILES WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE INSTITUTION OR WHETHER TO RETURN THEM TO THE COMMUNITY ON PROBATION. FOR THOSE JUVENILES WHO ARE KEPT IN THE INSTITUTION, THE STAFF IS GIVEN THE TASK OF DECIDING WHEN AND WITH WHAT CONDITIONS OR STIPULATIONS TO RETURN THE JUVENILE TO THE COMMUNITY ON PAROLE. THESE TWO DECISIONS ARE THE FOCUS OF THIS STUDY. IN THE FIRST CHAPTER, THE ROLE OF DISCRETION IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS EXPLORED. HOW THIS DISCRETION IS MANIFESTED BY AGENTS OF SOCIAL CONTROL IN AN ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING IS THEN EXAMINED, THE SETTING FOR THE STUDY AND METHODS USED TO RESEARCH THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS IS DISCUSSED IN CHAPTER TWO, AND THE RESULTS ARE EXPLAINED IN FOLLOWING CHAPTERS. THE FINAL CHAPTER DRAWS CONCLUSIONS FROM THE DATA AND SUGGESTS SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL POLICY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP