NCJ Number
123977
Date Published
1987
Length
42 pages
Annotation
Survey information regarding 1,042 youths referred to the juvenile detention facility of the Santa Clara County (Calif.) Probation Department in September and October 1986 formed the basis of an analysis of probation practices and led to several recommendations for changes.
Abstract
More than three-fourths (78.6 percent) of the minors presented were detained in the juvenile hall for 12 or more hours after referral, and 56.6 percent were detained for more than 72 hours. Minors presented for low-grade offenses like technical probation violations were nearly as likely to be securely detained as minors referred for serious offenses involving violence. In 79 percent of the cases, the most serious charge was a misdemeanor or technical violation. This pattern of charges does not appear to justify the levels of secure detention actually used. In addition, the community release program is rarely used at intake or during the first 72 hours. Moreover, 80 percent of the 60 youths ages 12 and under were kept in the juvenile hall for at least 12 hours, and 53 percent were detained for 3 days or more. Recommended changes include improved screening policies to identify low-risk minors who can safely be released to parents or to nonsecure shelters, the use of a variety of responses to probation violations, and greater use of the community release program. Figures, tables, and appended background information.