NCJ Number
80243
Journal
Esperienze di rieducazione Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: (October-December 1977) Pages: 5-12
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Problems arising from the 1977 Italian law transferring juvenile court responsibilities for civil matters, the guidance of maladjusted youths, and postincarceration assistance to local authorities are discussed.
Abstract
Civil matters are those affecting family relations, such as the home environment, adoption-related questions, and authorization to marry. Although the transfer of responsibilities in matters of family relations is a natural one posing few problems, the transfer in the case of guidance and postincarceration assistance is too abrupt. The changeover from the essentially custodial responsibility of the Ministry of Justice to the dispersed and sometimes nonexistent authority of the local agencies can pose substantial problems. An 'intervention vacuum' risks being created unless there is a concerted collaboration effort between the Ministry of Justice and local agencies. A unified intervention program, consisting of flexible alternatives, must be devised whose comprehensiveness will overcome the inherent limitations of each of the component institutions. Procedures for implementing such a coordinated approach must be set forth on the national, regional, and local levels. In particular, it will be necessary to define both the substance and the process of community collaboration with the judicial authority.