NCJ Number
51242
Date Published
1975
Length
228 pages
Annotation
AN ANALYSIS IS MADE OF THE PLANNING, DRAFTING, AND PRESENTATION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATION BY A PRIVATE RESEARCH COMPANY.
Abstract
ARTHUR BOLTON ASSOCIATES (A.B.A.) OF SACRAMENTO, CALIF., CONTRACTED WITH THE STATE OF MISSOURI TO PERFORM THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: ANALYZE DATA RELATING TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, PLAN AND CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER MEETINGS, PREPARE LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION MATERIAL, AND PREPARE A WRITTEN REPORT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO ASSESS THE ROLE OF A.B.A. IN POLICY RESEARCH AND PLANNING WHILE PERFORMING THESE SERVICES. DATA COLLECTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY SEARCHING AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS, INTERVIEWING, AND SITE VISITING. THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS IN THE SYSTEM WERE EXAMINED: STRUCTURE, POPULATION STATISTICS, COSTS, MANPOWER, FACILITIES, AND PROGRAMS. DATA GATHERING AND REPORTING WERE ADMITTEDLY WEAK. THE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY CLAIMED, HOWEVER, THAT THE DATA WERE SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION WAS PROPOSED: (1) THE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CONTROL, PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973, (2) THE MISSOURI CHILD DEVELOPMENT ACT, AND (3) ESTABLISHMENT OF A DIVISION OF PUPIL PERSONNEL SERVICES IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. A.B.A. CONCLUDED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE STUDY THE SYSTEM FOR COPING WITH THE PROBLEMS OF JUVENILES IN MISSOURI WAS EXPENSIVE AND INEFFECTIVE. IT WAS ALSO APPARENT THAT THE POLICY RESEARCHER'S ROLE WAS ESSENTIALLY SYMBOLIC RATHER THAN SCIENTIFIC. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, TABULAR DATA, CHARTS, AND APPENDIXES CONTAINING LEGISLATIVE BILLS ARE PROVIDED. (JCP)