NCJ Number
66873
Date Published
1980
Length
28 pages
Annotation
THIS ESSAY EXAMINES THE STRUCTURE AND JURISDICTION OF U.S. JUVENILE COURTS, EMERGING ISSUES IN JUVENILE JUSTICE, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CASEFLOW PROCESS, AND INTERNAL ISSUES IN JUVENILE COURTS.
Abstract
IN CONTRAST TO CRIMINAL COURTS, JUVENILE COURTS REPRESENT LAW, SOCIAL WORK, CONTROL, AND HELP. THE STRUCTURE AND JURISDICTION OF THE JUVENILE COURT VARY FROM STATE TO STATE. IN CALIFORNIA, FOR EXAMPLE, THE JUVENILE COURT IS REALLY THE JUVENILE DIVISION OF THE SUPERIOR COURT. IN CONTRAST, UTAH'S JUVENILE COURT IS A SEPARATE, STATEWIDE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM. TYPES OF MATTERS WHICH CAN BE BROUGHT BEFORE JUVENILE COURTS MAY INCLUDE DELINQUENCY CASES, CHILDREN IN NEED OF SUPERVISION THE DEPENDENT OR NEGLECTED CHILD, THE JUVENILE TRAFFIC OFFENDER, AND PATERNITY SUITS. SOME STATES HAVE LEGISLATIVELY SEPARATED STATUS OFFENSES FROM OTHER OFFENSES. A FAMILY COURT, SUCH AS THAT IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, HANDLES BOTH JUVENILE JURISDICTION AND MANY ADULT MATTERS RELATING TO CHILDREN. JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION TERMINATES AT AGES FROM 16 TO 18. FOUR PROBABLE FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR JUVENILE COURTS ARE (1) THE INCREASING ROLE OF LAW AND LAWYERS AS SUCH COURTS ARE REGARDED AS REGULAR COURTS OF LAW; (2) CONTINUING MOVEMENT TO NARROW THE COURTS' JURISDICTION; (3) INCREASED RELIANCE ON COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO STANDARD DELINQUENCY INSTITUTIONS; AND (4) INCREASING PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE COURTS. THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CASEFLOW PROCESS HAS SEVERAL POINTS OF DISCRETION, STARTING WITH THE REPORTING OF OFFENSES AND ENDING WITH DISPOSITIONAL DECISIONS. AMONG INTERNAL ISSUES CURRENTLY FACING COURTS ARE LOCAL COURT MANAGEMENT, LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR JUVENILES, PROBATION AND DETENTION SERVICES, AND THE ROLE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. DESPITE THE CURRENT CONFLICTS, JUVENILE COURT IS STRONGER AND BETTER THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO. REFERENCE NOTES AND FIGURES SHOWING DIFFERENT STATES' JUVENILE COURT ORGANIZATION AND DELINQUENCY INTAKE PROCESSES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)