NCJ Number
43306
Journal
Criminal Justice Quarterly Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1977) Pages: 9-45
Date Published
1977
Length
37 pages
Annotation
IN RESPONSE TO THE RISING JUVENILE CRIME RATE, THE NEW JERSEY COUNTY PROSECUTORS ASSOCIATION PREPARED THIS IN-DEPTH EVALUATION OF THE STATE'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM; POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE.
Abstract
NATIONALLY, PERSONS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE COMMIT 43 PERCENT OF ALL SERIOUS CRIMES. IN NEW JERSEY, 36.5 PERCENT OF ALL CRIME INDEX OFFENSES IN 1976 INVOLVED PERSONS UNDER AGE 18. WHILE RECIDIVISM AMONG ADULTS HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT 40-70 PERCENT, RECIDIVISM AMONG JUVENILES IS ESTIMATED AT 74-85 PERCENT. NEW JERSEY SPENT $10 MILLION IN 1975 ON THREE INSTITUTIONS HOUSING JUVENILE OFFENDERS. EXAMINATION OF THE SITUATION REVEALS THAT THE PRESENT JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM FAILS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN MINOR OFFENSES WHICH ARE BEST SOLVED IN AN INFORMAL, PARENTAL MANNER, AND SERIOUS OFFENSES, REQUIRING FORMAL, ADULT TREATMENT. ASSIGNMENTS TO JUVENILE BUREAUS IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS OR TO JUVENILE COURT ARE VIEWED AS EITHER UNIMPORTANT OR A FORM OF EXILE. FEW PERSONS DEALING WITH JUVENILE OFFENDERS HAVE HAD TRAINING. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS BRANCH OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BE GIVEN THS STATUS IT DESERVES BECAUSE THE YOUTH OF THE A COUNTRY ARE ITS GREATEST ASSET. IN ADDITION, PREVENTION OF JUVENILE CRIME SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY STRONG DETERRENCE PROCEDURES FOR SERIOUS OFFENDERS, BY GREATER USE OF DIVERSION AND RESTITUTION FOR MINOR OFFENDERS, BY SUPPORT OF VACATIONAL EDUCATION AND ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE QUALIFY FOR JOBS, AND BY CHANGE IN THE CHILD LABOR LAWS TO ALLOW ADOLESCENTS WHO NEED FINANCIAL AID TO WORK. GREATER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN PREVENTION ACTIVITIES IS NEEDED. THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT PLANNING AGENCY SHOULD COORDINATE JUVENILE PROGRAMS, INCREASE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS ANDTHE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, AND HELP FUND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP THE STUDENT WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE EXPELLED OR SUSPENDED OR WHO EXHIBITS DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, VANDALISM, OR TRUANCY. TRAINING IS NEEDED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL WHO DEAL WITH JUVENILES. DATA ON VARIOUS PROGRAMS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED, AND CAREFUL EVALUATION MADE.