Implications of California's 1977 Juvenile Justice Reform Law, 1981, Volume 5 - Impact of Juvenile Justice Legislation on Community Service Providers

• NCJ Number: 99813
• Author(s): M A Gordon
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 125 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-JN-99-0012; 78-JN-AX-0034
• Sponsoring Agency: US Securities and Exchange Cmssn
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the impact of California's AB3121 (1977), which deinstitutionalized status offenders, upon the volume and characteristics of juvenile justice referrals to nonjustice community facilities as well as changes which may have resulted in these facilities.

Abstract

One analysis reviewed the police and probation records for samples of arrested juveniles in five counties to determine the extent to which those agencies referred juveniles to nonjustice facilities. Data indicate that, with one outstanding exception (the Los Angeles County Status Offender Detention Alternative), there was no increase in the volume of juveniles referred to community facilities by justice juveniles referred to community facilities by justice agencies in the 3 months following the implementation of AB3121. The second analysis surveyed 50 nonjustice youth-serving community facilities to determine any changes in the volume of juvenile referrals and facility operations. Thirty to 40 percent of the facilities reported an increase in the number of clients served after AB3121's implementation. Staffs of served after AB3121's implementation. Staffs of these facilities attributed the change to police unwillingness to arrest and process status offenders, thus requiring parents and others to seek help for problem juveniles in nonjustice community agencies. The facilities questionnaire is provided. Tabular data and 6 references.