NCJ Number
59417
Journal
American Behavioral Scientist Volume: 22 Issue: 6 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (JULY/AUGUST 1979) Pages: COMPLETE ISSUE
Editor(s)
A BINDER,
G GEIS
Date Published
1979
Length
152 pages
Annotation
THIS 1979 ISSUE OF 'AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST' CONTAINS ARTICLES ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE DETERRENCE DOCTRINE, MISDEMEANORS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH, AND ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES.
Abstract
AN EXAMINATION OF THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM (FOCUSING ON SIGNIFICANT 19TH CENTURY DEVELOPMENTS) AND THE CURRENT RESPONSES TO PROBLEMS CREATED BY THIS SYSTEM, SUPPORT THE CONTENTION THAT MAJOR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO TREAT JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN THE SAME MANNER AS ADULT OFFENDERS. THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL ENHANCE THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. EFFORTS HAVE ALSO BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO RESTRICT THE TYPES OF OFFENSES FOR WHICH JUVENILES CAN BE TRIED. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE TREND TOWARDS USING COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES TO TREAT SUCH JUVENILE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AS TRUANCY OR RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME. ANOTHER ARTICLE ARGUES THAT COMPREHENSIVE AND DRASTIC EFFORTS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MISDEMEANORS AND TO ELIMINATE THE SPECIAL COURTS ESTABLISHED TO HANDLE SUCH CASES. A RADICAL CHANGE IS NEEDED TO CORRECT THE ABUSES WHICH HAVE ARISEN IN THIS SYSTEM. THE WAYS IN WHICH CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH IS BEING USED BY APPROPRIATE AGENCIES IN EVALUATING AND PLANNING THEIR ACTIVITIES FORM THE BASIS FOR THE THIRD ARTICLE. THE PRESSURE FOR SUCH EVALUATION AND PLANNING EFFORTS HAS BEEN HEIGHTENED BY GROWING PUBLIC PRESSURE THAT ITS TAX MONIES BE SPENT IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE MANNER POSSIBLE. THE CONTENTION THAT A HIGH CRIME RATE AND A COMPLEX CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE PART OF THE PRICE WHICH MUST BE PAID FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF DEMOCRACY AND A VIABLE ECONOMIC ORDER IS CAREFULLY ANALYSED IN THE FINAL ARTICLE. REFERENCES FOR EACH ARTICLE AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. FOR SPECIFIC ARTICLES SEE NCJRS # 59418 THROUGH 59422. (KCP)