NCJ Number
73762
Journal
Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (January 1980) Pages: 246-258
Date Published
1980
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The results of an empirical study examining the discretionary process operating within the juvenile justice system in a Texas county are presented.
Abstract
Data for the sample population of 7,793 cases in 1973 and 1976 were extracted from official files of the county juvenile court and probation department for 1 subpopulation and from the juvenile division of the largest city police department in the county for a second subpopulation. Disposition is defined as the decided official outcome of the juveniles' contact with a justice official. For this study, juveniles could receive one of the following dispositions from the police department: (1) released to parents, (2) released to relative, (3) referred to the probation department/court, (4) referred to detention, and (5) referred to another agency. At the probation department/court, the juvenile could be (1) dismissed by judge, (2) placed on probation, (3) referred to another agency, (4) committed to a State institution, (5) counseled and released, (6) denied by the district attorney, (7) dismissed by the police department, and (8) given another disposition. To evaluate if each independent variable examined (age, sex, race, previous offense this year, previous offense other years, year of data collection, method of handling, education, family income, family living situation, parent's marital status, and violation) was related to disposition, researchers related them to disposition by the appropriate T or F tests. The findings indicate that juveniles who were released to their parents were younger and/or had no previous official contacts with the police department. Juveniles referred to the county probation department were more likely to be older and/or black. At the probation department/court level, juveniles who were counseled and released were more likely to be female, young, have no previous record, or have no formal petition filed with the court. The article concludes that further and broader research is needed, the potential for diversion of juveniles from the justice system should be increased and methods to serve those currently institionalized may need to be developed, and such programs may need to be focused at the black and/or older juvenile population. The article is supported by detailed statistical data.