NCJ Number
59164
Date Published
1975
Length
42 pages
Annotation
JUVENILE JUSTICE IN GEORGIA IS HANDLED IN A FRAGMENTED MANNER WITHOUT SUFFICIENT STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES TO ENSURE UNIFORM INTAKE AND DETENTION PROCEDURES ACROSS THE STATE. DETENTION CENTER PLANNING NEEDS IMPROVEMENT, ALSO.
Abstract
THE JUVENILE CODE OF GEORGIA, WHICH IS THE ONLY COMMON BASIS FOR UNIFORM JUVENILE PROCESSING STATEWIDE, GIVES ONLY THE MOST GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR INTAKE AND DETENTION PROCEDURES. AS A RESULT, EACH COUNTY HAS DEVELOPED ITS OWN CRITERIA FOR HANDLING JUVENILES. IN 17 COUNTIES THERE IS AT LEAST 1 JUVENILE COURT WHOSE PERSONNEL HANDLE JUVENILE INTAKE; IN THE OTHER COUNTIES, JUVENILE INTAKE IS A FUNCTION OF REGULAR COURT PERSONNEL. GEORGIA'S DETENTION FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY THE 11 STATE-OPERATED REGIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, ARE GENERALLY OVERCROWDED. BUT WHETHER THIS IS DUE TO UNNECESSARY DETENTION OF CHILDREN OR TO INSUFFICIENT BEDSPACE IS NOT KNOWN BECAUSE DETAILED STATISTICS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF DETENTION ARE NOT KEPT. THE DETENTION EXPERIENCES OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH; SEATTLE, WASH.; AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEMONSTRATE THAT UNIFORM PROCEDURES CAN ENSURE MORE EQUITABLE HANDLING OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. GEORGIA SHOULD ESTABLISH SUCH PROCEDURES AND SHOULD ALSO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN THE STATE DETENTION CENTERS. SALARIES SHOULD BE INCREASED, RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL SHOULD BE RESTRUCTURED, AND UNIFORM PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING JUVENILES WHILE IN DETENTION SHOULD BE SPELLED OUT. A TIMETABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND AN ESTIMATED COST OF IMPLEMENTATION ARE INCLUDED. THIS STUDY CONTAINS STATISTICS, FOOTNOTES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY. (GLR)