NCJ Number
209370
Journal
Criminology & Public Policy Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2005 Pages: 103-130
Date Published
January 2005
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This study used official juvenile court data from an urban, metropolitan Arizona county, along with U.S. Census data, to identify individual-level and community-level data that influence the selection of juvenile offenders for a restorative justice program.
Abstract
The Maricopa County (Arizona) Juvenile Probation Department created Community Justice Committees (CJC) in 1995 to deal with an increasing juvenile crime rate. The program was created to divert juvenile offenders from formal court processing and bring their cases to community representatives for resolution. The committees work with the juveniles, family members, victims, and the community to develop juveniles' skills, restore a sense of community undermined by the offense, and hold the juvenile accountable for his/her actions. The decision to place a juvenile into the program is based on procedures administered by juvenile probation staff and the county attorney's office. For selected juveniles, participation in the program is voluntary. Using official juvenile court data for 1999 through 2001, the current study examined the selection process and the impact of the program on the recidivism of juvenile participants. The study found that property offenders whose crimes affected individual victims were more likely to be placed in the CJC program than juveniles who committed crimes against persons. Black and Hispanic/Latino juveniles were less likely than White offenders to be selected for placement in the program. Juveniles from communities with higher levels of unemployment were more likely to be selected for program participation. Juveniles who successfully completed the restorative justice program were less likely to recidivate than were juveniles in a comparison group. Although the program was found to be effective with those who participated, efforts should be made to include a greater proportion of juveniles from minority ethnic/racial groups. 4 tables and 69 references