As part of a multiyear initiative entitled "Law Enforcement's Leadership Role in the Advancement of Promising Practices in Juvenile Justice" (a joint effort by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the John D, and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation), the current report presents the findings and methodology of a research survey of law enforcement leaders that assessed the current state of attitudes, knowledge, and practices regarding how law enforcement agencies deal with juvenile offenders and collaborate with juvenile justice system partners.
Seventy-nine percent of respondents either "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that they should have a significant role in the policies and practices of the juvenile justice system; however, there was a large gap between the role law enforcement leaders believe they should have and the role they actually play in relation to the juvenile justice system. Only approximately one in five respondents indicated they or others in their department had a significant role in their community's juvenile justice system. A vast majority of respondents also indicated they support a separate justice system for juveniles; however, few were confident that the current system improves public safety or promotes rehabilitation. These findings and other information obtained from the survey show that law enforcement leaders support law enforcement's involvement with the juvenile justice system. The efforts of the "Law Enforcement's Leadership Role in the Advancement of Promising Practices in Juvenile Justice" intends to reduce the gaps between the promise of the juvenile justice system to help youth and how the system works in practice. The quantitative survey of 958 law enforcement leaders was administered between February 20, 2013 and April 15, 2013. Respondents were selected from a list of 4,434 police leaders. A total of 931 respondents completed the questionnaire. 31 figures and appended survey instrument