NCJ Number
79023
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Community-based, noninstitutional services for status offenders used by the Pima County Juvenile Court Center (Arizona) are discussed.
Abstract
During 1976 and 1977, Pima County led a difficult fight with the Arizona Legislature to modify statutes relating to status offenders. While removal of status offenders from the jurisdiction of the juvenile courts was sought, the most that could be achieved was prohibition against status offenders being committed to the State Department of Corrections for long-term institutional care. Status offenders still may be detained in a variety of facilities. The juvenile courts clearly cannot be expected to deal with the many problems associated with adolescent development. The development of a comprehensive network of community resources for juveniles is needed, including the contributions of community social service agencies, families, schools, and churches. This concept of a community network of services is available for troubled adolescents who have not committed adult offenses implies the deinstitutionalization of status offenders. The deinstitutionalization of status offenders in Pima County has not only enabled troubled youth to receive services while maintaining a generally normative community and family life, but it has reduced the housing costs for juvenile clients by $20 per day compared to the cost of detention. The various types of community-based programs for juveniles in Pima County are briefly described, and tabular data on the number of delinquent and status offenders referred to the juvenile court of Pima County from 1973 through 1976 and projected through 1977 are presented. (Author summary modified)