NCJ Number
48790
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 29 Issue: 2 Dated: (MAY 1978), R 41-48
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
ISSUES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NONCORRECTIONAL SERVICE ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUTHS LABELED AS STATUS OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE JUVENILE COURT'S BROAD, VAGUE MANDATE OVER MANY JUVENILE PROBLEMS HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE COURT TO BECOME A SAFETY VALVE FOR YOUTH SERVICE AGENCIES AND PARENTS. THE COURT'S EFFECTIVENESS IS HAMPERED BY THE VOLUME OF JUVENILE NUISANCE CASES IT PROCESSES AND BY THE DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT ON SUCH CASES. JURISDICTION OVER STATUS OFFENSES (TRUANCY, RUNAWAYS, INCORRIGIBLES) SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ASSIGNED TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CHILD WELFARE AND YOUTH SERVICE AGENCIES. HOWEVER, MOST PROPOSALS SUPPORTING NONJUDICIAL HANDLING OF STATUS OFFENDERS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM RATHER THAN ON DETAILS OF ALTERNATIVES. AN APPROACH CENTERED ON YOUTH SOCIALIZATION AND UNIVERSALISTIC SERVICES WOULD NOT ISOLATE STATUS OFFENDERS AS A GROUP. RATHER, ALL YOUTH WOULD BE SEEN AS A POPULATION AT RISK. COMMUNITY-LEVEL SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL EDUCATION AND TREATMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, FAMILY COUNSELING, SEX EDUCATION, AND LEGAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL YOUTH, WITHOUT RECOURSE TO PARENTAL PERMISSION OR SUPPORT. THE THRUST OF SERVICE WOULD BE PREVENTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE, AND THE FOCUS WOULD BE ON PROVIDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL AS INNOVATIONS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SPECIFIC PROGRAMS WOULD BE DEVELOPED ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF EACH COMMUNITY, BUT THE GENERAL GOAL WOULD BE PREVENTION OF YOUTH ALIENATION. (LKM)