NCJ Number
61215
Journal
Quarterly Volume: 35 Issue: 4 AND V 36, N 1 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 24-38
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
INTERORGANIZATIONAL CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION IN THE PENNSYLVANIA JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE EXAMINED, AND AN ORGANIZATIONAL MODEL IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE INTEGRATION.
Abstract
THE MAJOR AGENCIES COMPOSING THE EXISTING JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE THE POLICE, THE JUVENILE COURT, AND JUVENILE REFERRAL AGENCIES. EACH OF THESE AGENCIES IS HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED AND IS ACCUSTOMED TO OPERATING WITHOUT REGULAR INTERACTION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OTHER AGENCIES IN THE JUVENILE SYSTEM. THIS LACK OF COLLABORATION OR INTEGRATION BETWEEN MAJOR COMPONENTS INVOLVED IN THE HANDLING OF JUVENILES PRECLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON GOALS AND COOPERATIVE ACTION IN MEETING OVERALL SYSTEM OBJECTIVES. INTEGRATION OF THE SEPARATE COMPONENTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN BEST BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 'MANAGERIAL COMPONENT' COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH MAJOR ELEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THIS MANAGERIAL SUBSYSTEM WOULD BE LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL AGENCY OF THE JUVENILE SYSTEM, WITH AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY CREATED BY STATUTORY MANDATE. THE PROPOSED MODEL OF JUVENILE JUSTICE ORGANIZATION WILL PERMIT PLANNING FOR THE WHOLE OF THE JUVENILE SYSTEM RATHER THAN FOR ONLY SEPARATE COMPONENTS, AND THE OPERATIONS OF EACH COMPONENT CAN BE DESIGNED TO RELATE TO SYSTEM GOALS, WITH A MIMIMUM OF DUPLICATION AND CONFLICT. FOOTNOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)