Criminal Codes, Criminal Justice and Female Offenders - New Jersey as a Case Study (From Changing Roles of Women in the Criminal Justice System - Offenders, Victims, and Professionals, P 41-53, 1985, Imogene L Moyer, ed. - See NCJ-99505)

• NCJ Number: 99507
• Author(s): C Feinman
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Waveland Press, Inc.
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis considers the cultural attitudes toward females that shaped the criminal justice system of New Jersey, the effects of these attitudes on the treatment of juvenile and adult females, and the impact of New Jersey's new juvenile and criminal codes.

Abstract

Before 1970, New Jersey's laws reflected longstanding cultural attitudes towards women. As a result, the criminal justice system treated both adult and juvenile females more harshly than it did males. Civil rights groups and other activists brought about legal reforms designed to eliminate sex discrimination. New Jersey's new juvenile code went into effect in 1974, and its adult criminal code took effect in 1979. These codes ended gender-based discrimination in the definition of crime and in the sentencing process. Although the new criminal code contains some nonneutral language it represents a great improvement, especially in areas of sexual offenses and sentencing. However, discrimination continues against female juvenile status offenders, both in the definition of punishable behavior and in the disposition process. Both male and female status offenders still do not have due process rights. A total of 14 references are included.