Juvenile Justice System Professional Survey - A Description of Results in the National Evaluation Sites

• NCJ Number: 98586
• Author(s): B J Seljan
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 46 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-NI-99-0005; 79-JN-AX-0009; 82-JS-AX-0025
• Sponsoring Agency: US Securities and Exchange Cmssn
• Corporate Author: Institute of Policy Analysis
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Part of the national evaluation of the Juvenile Restitution Initiative, this survey assessed criminal justice professionals' attitudes, preferences, and expectations concerning restitution program goals, program operating methods, and consequences.

Abstract

Professionals were surveyed at five sites: Ventura County, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; Clayton County, Ga.; Oklahoma County, Okla.; and Dane County, Wis. The survey instrument was based on a review of the literature dealing with adult and juvenile restitution. The stratified sample included all juvenile court judges in the five sites, the superior court judge, all juvenile court administrators, probation officers, county commissioners, and program staff members. Three types of response formats were used to solicit professionals' opinions about restitution program issues: fixed response, Likert-type scales, and magnitude rating scales. The survey and a cover letter were mailed to each person in the sample at each site. The number of persons at each site varied. The overall response rate was 62 percent. The total number responding was 199 (Ventura, 44; Washington, D.C., 24; Clayton, 34; Oklahoma, 55; Dane, 42). Findings from each site are presented. Respondents at all sites expressed strong support for the introduction of a restitution program in their respective communities. Tabular data, five reference notes, and the survey form are included.