DIFFERENTIAL SELECTION OF JUVENILES FOR DETENTION

• NCJ Number: 43105
• Journal: Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1977) Pages: 152-165
• Author(s): E J PAWLAK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DETENTION PRACTICES OF 66 COUNTY JUVENILE COURTS WERE EXAMINED FOR A 3-YEAR PERIOD TO COMPARE COURTS WITH AND WITHOUT DETENTION HOMES AND TO EXAMINE EFFECTS OF SEX, RACE, OFFENSE, AND PRIOR COURT CONTACT ON DETENTION.

Abstract

RECORDS FOR 91,716 JUVENILES PULLED FROM A CENTRAL STATE REPOSITORY OF COUNTY DATA SHOWED THAT 24.3 PERCENT OF JUVENILES ARE DETAINED PRIOR TO DISPOSITION. (THE STATE ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.) ANALYSIS OF THOSE DETAINED SHOWED THAT 74 PERCENT WERE HELD IN DETENTION HOMES, 9 PERCENT IN JAILS, AND THE REST IN VARIOUS FACILITIES. AMONG THE 21 COURTS WITH DETENTION HOMES, 9 TO 79 PERCENT OF JUVENILES ARE DETAINED PRETRIAL, TRIAL, WHILE IN COURTS WITHOUT DETENTION HOMES THE WHILE IN COURTS WITHOUT DETENTION HOMES THE FIQURE IS 0 TO 28 PERCENT. THE LARGER THE DETENTION FACILITY, THE MORE LIKELY A JUVENILE IS TO BE DETAINED, REGARDLESS OF SEX, RACE, OR OFFENSE. THE GREATEST INCREASE IN PROBABILITY OF DETENTION COMES FOR MINOR JUVENILE CODE OFFENDERS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT AVAILABILITY OF DETENTION HOMES LEADS TO UNNECESSARY DETENTION. ANALYSIS OF OTHER FACTORS SHOWED THAT DETENTION INCREASES AS NUMBER OF COURT CONTACTS INCREASES, THAT FEMALES ARE DETAINED MORE THAN MALES, THAT WHITES ARE DETAINED MORE THAN NONWHITES, AND THAT JUVENILE CODE OFFENDERS ARE DETAINED MORE THAN THOSE CHARGED WITH MORE SERIOUS CRIMES. WHITES, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE, ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE HELD IN JAIL THAN NONWHITES. TABLES PRESENT SUPPORTING STATISTICS.