NCJ Number
171640
Date Published
1996
Length
134 pages
Annotation
Delays in the processing of juvenile delinquency cases were analyzed with respect to their extent, their causes, their effects on juveniles and the administration of the juvenile justice system, and recommended ways to address them.
Abstract
The research was conducted during 1992-1996. It collected information from a literature review; a survey of judges, attorneys, and administrators from 123 local juvenile justice systems; 3 qualitative case studies of practices and delay problems in urban juvenile courts; and more than 500,000 case records in 394 jurisdictions, from the National Juvenile Court Data Archive. Results revealed that in many urban areas, the time required for juvenile case processing has begun to rival the trial times of criminal courts. Most of the reasons for case processing delays in juvenile justice are similar to those experienced by the criminal and civil courts. Some are unique to the juvenile justice system. However, processing delays in juvenile justice may be uniquely harmful, due to differences between adolescents and adults. Methods of reducing delays include everyday management efforts, statutes, administrative rules, and professional standards. The impact of statutes, rules, and standards may be limits if they are not supported by other efforts. However, they can help establish the expectation throughout the juvenile justice system that delinquency cases should proceed as quickly as possible. The research literature also supports the need for an organizational effort to control delay through an effective caseflow management system. Tables, figures, appended list of counties surveyed, list of cases cited, and 160 references