NCJ Number
55888
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 143-163
Date Published
1979
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIVE INFLUENCE OF LEGAL CRITERIA AND JUVENILES' SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS ON INTAKE DECISIONS IN TWO COURTS WITH DIFFERING PHILOSOPHIES IS EXPLORED.
Abstract
ONE PURPOSE OF THE ANALYSIS IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER COURT INTAKE PERSONNEL BASE THEIR DECISIONS TO PROCESS FORMALLY OR INFORMALLY ON RACIAL AND/OR CLASS BIAS. DATA WERE GATHERED ON 5,963 JUVENILES PROCESSED BY MEMPHIS, TENN., COURTS IN 1972 AND ON 2,654 JUVENILES PROCESSED BY DENVER, COLO., COURTS IN THE SAME YEAR. THE TWO COURTS ARE SIMILAR STRUCTURALLY BUT DIFFER IN THEIR ORIENTATION. INTAKE PERSONNEL IN DENVER ARE CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF JUVENILES, WHEREAS MEMPHIS INTAKE PERSONNEL FAVOR THE THERAPEUTIC APPROACH, I.E., THE VIEW THAT THE PROPER COURSE OF ACTION IS THE ONE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD. BOTH LEGAL AND SOCIAL VARIABLES INFLUENCE THE DECISIONS OF INTAKE OFFICERS IN BOTH COURTS. THE VARIABLES OF RACE, PARENTAL INCOME, AND FAMILY STABILITY HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT EFFECT IN EITHER COURT. SEX, COURT PHILOSOPHY, AND TYPE OF OFFENSE HAVE THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON INTAKE DECISIONS. VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND STATUS OFFENDERS ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE FORMALLY ADJUDICATED IN BOTH COURTS. PRIOR RECORD AND WORK/SCHOOL STATUS ALSO INFLUENCE THE INTAKE DECISION TO PROCESS FORMALLY OR INFORMALLY. THE POSSIBILITY IS RAISED THAT STUDIES WHICH HAVE FOUND RACE AND CLASS BIAS IN JUVENILE COURT INTAKE DECISIONS HAVE BEEN FLAWED METHODOLOGICALLY. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)