NCJ Number
58884
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 299-317
Date Published
1979
Length
19 pages
Annotation
MAJOR FORCES SPURRING CHANGE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE IDENTIFIED, AND RECENT LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY CHANGES LIKELY TO PROMOTE FURTHER ALTERATION ARE CONSIDERED, FOLLOWED BY A DESCRIPTION OF A REFORM MODEL.
Abstract
THE CURRENT JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS BECOME AN OBJECT OF GROWING CRITICISM BASED ON CHALLENGES THAT CAN BE CATEGORIZED AS LEGAL, EMPIRICAL, AND POLITICAL. LEGAL CHALLENGES HAVE ASSAILED JUVENILE COURTS FOR FAILING TO GIVE ATTENTION TO THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF JUVENILES IN COURT HEARINGS. EMPIRICAL STUDIES HAVE CHALLENGED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JUVENILE COURTS IN ACHIEVING THEIR PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE OF REHABILITATION. THE PUBLIC, OUT OF A PERCEPTION THAT JUVENILE CRIME IS GROWING AND BEARING THE CHARACTER OF FELONIOUS ADULT CRIMES, IS PRESSING POLITICIANS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF DEALING WITH JUVENILE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974 IS A KEY ELEMENT IN ANALYZING BOTH THE EXTENT OF, AND FUTURE POTENTIAL FOR, CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE. THE INNOVATIVE CHARACTER OF THIS ACT RESIDES PRIMARILY IN ITS CONCENTRATION OF FEDERAL EFFORT ON CREATING POLICY CHANGE AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE ACT ARE DESCRIBED, AND ITS EFFECT ON THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS IS EXAMINED IN THE VARIOUS STATES. AS STATES ARE COMPELLED TO ADOPT NEW LEGISLATION TO MEET SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ACT, A POTENTIAL IS CREATED FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF ADDITIONAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WITH A VIEW TOWARD AN INCREASING MOMENTUM FOR RADICAL CHANGE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, A MODEL FOR A MODIFIED JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS PROPOSED. (RCB)