NCJ Number
44648
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 133-151
Date Published
1977
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE HANDLING OF STATUS OFFENDERS BY JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES IS EXAMINED, WITH EMPHASIS ON DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN LEGAL CODES AND ACTUAL PRACTICE.
Abstract
A REVIEW OF STATE LAWS INDICATES THAT STATUS OFFENDERS ARE GENERALLY VIEWED AS JUVENILE DELINQUENTS WHO DO NOT MERIT SPECIAL ATTENTION. ALTHOUGH MANY JURISDICTIONS REQUIRE BY LAW THAT SEPARATE FACILITIES BE PROVIDED FOR STATUS OFFENDERS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENTS DURING THE DISPOSITION PHASE, ANALYSIS OF 20 PUBLIC AND 22 PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES INDICATES THAT THIS STATUTORY REQUIREMENT IS NOT CARRIED OUT IN PRACTICE. ESTIMATES BASED ON A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF 1,467 JUVENILE OFFENDERS REVEAL THAT AT LEAST 35 PERCENT OF ALL YOUTH COMMITTED TO PUBLIC CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ARE STATUS OFFENDERS. INDIVIDUAL STATE PERCENTAGES RANGE FROM 28 PERCENT IN RHODE ISLAND TO 43 PERCENT IN MICHIGAN. THE NUMBER OF STATUS OFFENDERS IN A STATE, EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF ALL JUVENILE OFFENDERS DETAINED IN THE STATE'S PUBLIC CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, INCREASES AS THE CRIME INDEX INCREASES, AS THE STATE POPULATION INCREASES OR BECOMES MORE URBANIZED, AS THE NONWHITE POPULATION DECRESES, AS EDUCATION INCREASES, AS THE PERCENTAGE OF AID TO FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN RECIPIENTS INCREASES, AS MORE FEDERAL FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE, AND AS LESS LOCAL FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE STATUS OFFENDER BE REMOVED FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND HANDLED THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, SUCH AS YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.