NCJ Number
65353
Date Published
1980
Length
20 pages
Annotation
BASED ON TWO SURVEYS IN ARIZONA, FINDINGS ARE REPORTED WHICH PERTAIN TO THE PERCEPTIONS OF LEGAL PUNISHMENTS BY ARIZONA JUVENILES.
Abstract
ONE SURVEY INVOLVED STUDENTS IN SIX HIGH SCHOOLS--THREE IN A METROPOLITAN AREA AND THE ONLY SCHOOL IN EACH OF THREE SMALL TOWNS--AND THE OTHER SURVEY FOCUSED ON ADULT RESIDENTS IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA'S CENTRAL CITY AND THE THREE SMALL TOWNS. IN THE SURVEY OF STUDENTS, A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED EITHER TO ALL STUDENTS OR TO ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING A PARTICULAR CLASS ON A SPECIFIC DAY. ALL ADULT RESPONDENTS IN THE SURVEY WERE SELECTED THROUGH A RANDOM SAMPLING OF HOUSEHOLDS FROM AN OSTENSIBLY COMPLETE LIST FOR EACH OF THE FOUR AREAS SURVEYED; ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE ADULTS RESPONDED. ON THE WHOLE, THE FINDINGS CAST DOUBT ON ANY ATTEMPT TO FURTHER DETERRENCE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT ADULTS ARE UNLIKELY TO ENDORSE THE REGULAR IMPOSITION OF LONG PRISON SENTENCES EVEN IF JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE PROSECUTED AS THOUGH THEY WERE ADULTS. ALSO, IT IS LIKELY THAT MOST STATES WILL DECRIMINALIZE STATUS OFFENSES IN THE 1980'S. PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, THESE FINDINGS AND OTHERS PERTAINING TO ADULTS CLEARLY SUGGEST THAT WHAT APPEARS TO BE EVIDENCE OF DETERRENCE MAY ONLY REFLECT THE FACT THAT CERTAIN OFFENSES ARE SOCIALLY DISAPPROVED OF MORE THAN OTHERS. THE EFFECTIVE PREVENTION OF OFFENSES BY JUVENILES IS NOT BEING REALIZED BY ANY MECHANISM, BE IT REHABILITATION, INCAPACITATION, DETERRENCE, OR NORMATIVE VALIDATION. THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT NO POLICY IN JUVENILE JUSTICE IS LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS LONG AS ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT OFFENSES BY JUVENILES EXTEND TO STATUS OFFENSES AND OTHER VICTIMLESS OFFENSES. TABLES, NOTES, AND APPROXIMATELY 15 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)