NCJ Number
34730
Date Published
1975
Length
48 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY IS AN EMPIRICAL ATTEMPT TO ASCERTAIN THE VARIABLES MOST SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO DETENTION DECISION OUTCOMES IN THREE GEOGRAPHICALLY REPRESENTATIVE METROPOLITAN JUVENILE COURTS FOR THE YEAR 1972.
Abstract
THE THREE COURTS STUDIED WERE LOCATED IN DENVER (COLORADO), MEMPHIS-SHELBY COUNTY (TENNESSEE), AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA). MULTIPLE REGRESSION AND PREDICTIVE ATTRIBUTE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH SOCIAL BIOGRAPHIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES OF JUVENILES, AS OPPOSED TO 'LEGALLY RELEVANT' CRITERIA (I.E., NUMBER OF PRIOR COURT REFERRALS AND SEVERITY OF THE OFFENSE FOR WHICH THE YOUTH IS CHARGED), ACCOUNT FOR DETENTION DECISION OUTCOMES. THE DATA INDICATE THAT ALTHOUGH SEVERAL VARIABLES ARE RELATED TO DETENTION DECISIONS IN EACH OF THE COURTS, THREE VARIABLES - HAVING A PRIOR COURT REFERRAL, BEING IDLE (NOT WORKING OR IN SCHOOL), AND COMING FROM A BROKEN HOME -- ARE RELATED TO DETENTION DECISIONS IN ALL THREE COURTS. IN EACH COURT, IDLE YOUTHS AND THOSE FROM BROKEN HOMES WERE EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY MORE APT TO HAVE BEEN DETAINED THAN WERE THEIR COUNTERPARTS, LENDING SUPPORT TO THE VIEW THAT DIFFERENCES IN CERTAIN ATTRIBUTES OF JUVENILES MAY ACCOUNT FOR DIFFERENCES IN TREATMENT METED OUT BY COURT FUNCTIONARIES AT THE DETENTION STATE OF JUVENILE OFFENDER PROCESSING. THIS REPORT IS PART OF A UTILIZATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS PROJECT DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THE USE OF EXISTING DATA IN ADDRESSING ISSUES OF CURRENT INTEREST. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)