NCJ Number
173335
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 8 Issue: 2-3 Dated: 1997 Pages: 201-219
Date Published
1997
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined the impacts of being waived into adult court for 250 youths in Richmond, Va., from 1987 to 1991.
Abstract
Only for serious crimes such as rape or murder does the offender receive a prison time above the mean of 5 years. Over the 5-year period, 16 repeat offenders came into the juvenile court and were waived a second time; 4 were waived three times; and 2 were waived four times. A total of 65 youths (26 percent) were not guilty or were nolo processed. Identification of that particular group of youth was identified by tracking the youths through a case-by-case, hand-by-hand method. This paper describes how this research was used to achieve changes in the policy and practice of dealing with youth. Some of the practices include ISS-KPGB (suspended sentences based on keeping the peace and being of good behavior, a condition similar to probation but with no cost to the State for a probation officer) and retention of adult classification once waived. Other practices are a decrease in the discretion of criminal judges through the use of sentencing guidelines and a three-tier certification or transfer process. Implications for incarcerating more juvenile offenders for longer periods and redefining more of them as adults are also discussed. 3 tables and a 28-item bibliography