NCJ Number
99088
Date Published
1984
Length
32 pages
Annotation
After examining trends in juvenile crime and the juvenile justice system in England, this paper considers alternatives to institutionalization for juveniles and the handling of serious juvenile offenders.
Abstract
The analysis of juvenile crime patterns in England in the 1980's includes gang offenses, female delinquency, urban delinquency, violent crimes, burglary, vehicular offenses, drug abuse, shoplifting, vandalism, and general theft offenses. A review of the etiology of juvenile delinquency encompasses factors pertaining to family environment, personality disorders, female emancipation, and urbanization. The discussion of the British juvenile justice system focuses on the tension between the justice model, which emphasizes the delivery of sanctions in accordance with crime severity, and the welfare model, which emphasizes individualized treatment. Problems are also noted in the development of uniform criteria for the use of discretion in diverting juveniles from court processing. England's commitment to and patterns of alternatives to custody for juveniles are considered as well, with particular attention to probation conditions and services. The discussion of the handling of serious juvenile offenders considers the juvenile court waiver, the criminalizing influence of institutionalization, and alternative ways of supervising serious juvenile offenders without endangering the public. Eighty-five notes and references are listed.