JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S FIGHT AGAINST YOUTH CRIME - A REVIEW OF THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION

• NCJ Number: 62066
• Author(s): R W WOODSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: 95TH CONGRESS, 2ND SESSION, DECEMBER 1978

Annotation

THIS REPORT CONCLUDES THAT PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ARE INEFFECTIVE IN DEALING WITH SERIOUS JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND NEGLECT MINORITY, LOW-INCOME YOUTH.

Abstract

THE STUDY REVIEWED THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY OF THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION (OJJDP) AND THEN ANALYZED ITS FUNDING PATTERNS. PROJECTS DESIGNED BY THE OJJDP HAVE EMPHASIZED DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS AND DIVERSION OF LESS SERIOUS OFFENDERS FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT SERIOUS JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE PREDOMINANTLY MALE, NEAR THE UPPER AGE LIMITS OF JUVENILE JURISDICTION, AND COME FROM MINORITY GHETTO AND POVERTY BACKGROUNDS. ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL BIRTH RATE IS DECLINING, THIS RISK GROUP IS NOT EXPECTED TO DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE FUTURE. IN CONTRAST, OJJDP PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED AT NONURBAN, LOW CRIME AREAS AND MUCH MONEY HAS GONE INTO ADMINISTRATION, PARTICULARLY IN RESTITUTION PROGRAMS. THE REPORT DESCRIBES PROGRAMS THAT HAVE SUCCEEDED IN HELPING VIOLENT OFFENDERS TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY: THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN A LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE OJJDP AND A LIST OF RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FOR FISCAL 1978. (MJM)