NCJ Number
55789
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 37-42
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE STATE OF WASHINGTON'S REVISED JUVENILE CODE IS REVIEWED. IT SETS UP CATEGORIES OF OFFENDERS AND OFFENSES, MANDATES DIVERSION FOR MINOR OFFENDERS, AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION FOR MAJOR OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE CODE, WHICH TOOK EFFECT JULY 1, 1978, REPLACES A SIMPLE ONE-PAGE LAW WRITTEN IN 1913. IT DIVIDES OFFENDERS UNDER AGE 18 INTO THREE BASIC CLASSES: MINOR OR FIRST OFFENDERS, SERIOUS OFFENDERS, AND A GROUP THAT FALLS IN BETWEEN. MINOR AND FIRST TIME PROPERTY OFFENDERS MUST BE DIVERTED OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT TO A BOARD OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS. THE BOARD DECIDES WHETHER THE YOUTH NEEDS TO BE IN A COMMUNITY SUPERVISION PROGRAM AND SETS RESTITUTION FOR PROPERTY LOSS. A SERIOUS OFFENDER IS A YOUTH OVER 15 WHO HAS COMMITTED A SERIOUS CRIME AGAINST ANOTHER PERSON, SUCH AS RAPE, ASSAULT, OR MURDER, OR WHO HAS A RECORD OF SERIOUS PROPERTY CRIMES. INSTITUTIONALIZATION WITHIN STATE-SET MINIMUM-MAXIMUM RANGES ARE MANDATED FOR THIS GROUP. OFFENDERS FALLING BETWEEN THESE EXTREMES ARE HANDLED ACCORDING TO THE DISCRETION OF PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES. COMPLAINTS WITH THE FORMER SYSTEM AGREE THAT IT LET TOO MANY SERIOUS OFFENDERS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY TIME AND TIME AGAIN. OPPONENTS OF THE NEW LAW SAY THAT THE MANDATORY SENTENCING ASPECT SUBVERTS THE PURPOSE OF JUVENILE COURT. BOTH ARGUMENTS ARE EXAMINED IN DETAIL. THE IMPACT OF THE NEW LAW ON CASELOADS AND BUDGETS IS NOT KNOWN. THE LAW APPROPRIATES $983,600 TO HELP INDIVIDUAL COUNTIES SET UP THEIR DIVERSIONARY BOARDS. THE CITY OF SEATTLE, WHICH HAS HAD SUCH BOARDS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND WHICH PROVIDED THE MODEL FOR THE BILL, SPENDS ABOUT $400,000 TO OPERATE ITS THREE PANELS OF VOLUNTEERS.