NCJ Number
92638
Date Published
1983
Length
102 pages
Annotation
Five juvenile court judges present their views on serious and repetitive juvenile delinquency, status offenses and reoffenses, juvenile delinquency and detention, monitoring the juvenile justice system, and the judge's role in improving the juvenile justice system.
Abstract
The judges do not consider serious or repetitive delinquency an overwhelming problem, as they have not seen highly visible increases in these types of offenders in their courts in recent years. Two judges strongly emphasize the need for incapacitation for such juveniles, while two others are less strenuous in stating the need for incapacitation. The fifth contends that the law alone should indicate when institutionalization is required. Regarding status offenders, the judges are far more supportive of a prohibition on the commitment of such offenders to juvenile delinquency institutions than of a ban or near ban on the use of secure detention for these youth. Only one judge indicated support for removing court jurisdiction over status offenders. All five judges strongly emphasize protection of the community in determining whether alleged delinquents should be held in secure detention pending further court determinations. Criteria generally followed are the seriousness of the charged offense and prior record. Regarding the monitoring of the juvenile justice system, the judges indicate that the performance standards they project, together with their watchfulness, prompt stronger compliance and heightened achievement in the courts.