NCJ Number
107906
Journal
Law and Psychology Review Volume: 10 Dated: (Spring 1986) Pages: 73-99
Date Published
1986
Length
27 pages
Annotation
The attitudes and practices of Alabama's juvenile court and correctional personnel with respect to status offenders were studied using a mailed survey conducted in 1981.
Abstract
Responses came from 67 judges in 56 of the State's 69 juvenile jurisdictions and from probation officers in 46 jurisdictions. Results provided strong support for the study hypothesis that the range and distribution of rates of adjudication of youth referred for status offenders would indicate great variables in juvenile court practices with alleged status offenders. Results also strongly supported the hypothesis that the numbers of referrals to the court or the county population would not explain these variations. Finally, strong support was found for the hypothesis that court philosophy would help explain court practices concern status offenders. Two general philosophies were identified: (1) a philosophy emphasizing the social agency role of the court while deemphasizing formal procedures and (2) a more legalistic philosophy placing greater emphasis on the use of formal court authority. The courts with the first philosophy had lower adjudication rates than those following the second one. Results may relate to the tensions between the growing legalistic role of the juvenile court and the court's more traditional social agency role. The new legal code authorizing jurisdiction of the court over status offenses has not eliminated the basic issue of who makes the decisions concerning the handling of these youths. 70 footnotes and 6 tables.