NCJ Number
55750
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 58 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 177-185
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
USING FLORIDA RECORD DATA, THE EFFECT OF REMOVING STATUS OFFENDERS FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF FLORIDA'S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SERVICES PROGRAM OFFICE, THE YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM OFFICE, AND THE 11 DISTRICTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SERVICES. STATUS OFFENDERS CONSISTED OF RUNAWAYS, UNGOVERNABLES, AND TRUANTS. THE SAMPLE FOR THIS STUDY CONSISTED OF 3,000 STATUS OFFENDERS AND OTHER DEPENDENTS. THE EFFECT OF LEGISLATION ON THE REMOVAL OF STATUS OFFENDERS WAS EXAMINED IN TERMS OF ITS IMPACT ON THE JUVENILE SYSTEM AND ITS IMPACT ON THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE NUMBER OF STATUS OFFENDERS HELD IN SECURE DETENTION DECREASED FROM 22.5 PERCENT OF ALL CHILDREN HELD IN SECURE DETENTION IN 1975 TO 4.0 PERCENT IN 1977. HOWEVER, IT MAY BE SAID THAT THESE STATISTICS ARE NOT TRULY REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT STATUS OFFENDERS ADJUDICATED A SECOND TIME FOR UNGOVERNABILITY CAN BE PROCESSED AS DELINQUENTS. ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE STATUS OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SYSTEM, THE DELINQUENCY POPULATIONS FOR DETENTION, PROBATION, AND COMMITMENT IN YOUTH SERVICES HAVE NOT DECLINED SINCE 1975 WHEN THE DECRIMINALIZATION LEGISLATION WAS PASSED. AN EXAMININATION OF THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM FOUND THAT THE DECRIMINALIZATION LEGISLATION HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. IN THE PROTECTIVE SERVICES CASELOAD, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT STATUS OFFENDERS CONSTITUTED ABOUT 32 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL CASELOAD. CHILDREN NOT SERVED BY PROTECTIVE SERVICES ARE MOST OFTEN PLACED IN FOSTER HOMES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SERVING STATUS OFFENDERS IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM DID NOT CAUSE ANY SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTIONS IN THE FUNCTIONING OF THE SYSTEM. A SET OF 15 QUESTIONS FOR OTHER STATES CONTEMPLATING DECRIMINALIZATION ARE PRESENTED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)