NCJ Number
116272
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 40 Issue: 1 Dated: (1989) Pages: 43-48
Date Published
1989
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The development and application of a policy-oriented model for conducting baseline research for juvenile courts are discussed, with emphasis on the general efforts that are essential to more specific research efforts on policies and practices.
Abstract
The model focuses on the information that is readily available for analysis in court systems with computerized data collection procedures. The discussion uses the data files of the Maricopa County (Ariz.) juvenile court to illustrate the application of the model. From this data base, the records of all delinquent acts by juveniles born in 1962-65 and first referred to court before age 16. This resulted in a sample of 76,150 juvenile court cases involving 17,773 juveniles. The analysis focused on detention and disposition and examined equity in offender processing, the impact of referral practices, patterns of offending, and the use of particular dispositions. Findings showed that about half of the first offenders became repeat offenders; about 25 percent committed at least 3 offenses. Blacks and Mexican-Americans were overrepresented in nearly all crimes. Eighty-nine percent of all first offenders were handled at the intake level without formal adjudication. Less than 5 percent of the youths were detained at their first offenses. Almost half of all robbery, aggravated assault, and burglary offenders recidivated within 2 years. Detainees generally recidivated at higher rates than nondetainees. Results indicated the need for further research on factors affecting the equity of pre-intake referrals and on the appropriate level of intake processing for minor offenses such as shoplifting. Tables.