NCJ Number
66425
Editor(s)
E J KUBIK
Date Published
1979
Length
46 pages
Annotation
THIS GUIDEBOOK FOR PRACTITIONERS AND LAYMEN DESCRIBES THE OPERATIONS OF SUFFOLK COUNTY'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCLUDING PROCESSES, JUVENILE RIGHTS, RECORDS, AND ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION.
Abstract
BEGINNING WITH AN OVERVIEW OF JUVENILE JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATE AND NEW YORK STATE, THE BOOKLET DISCUSSES THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE JUVENILE SYSTEM AND HOW DEFINITIONS OF DELINQUENCY VARY AMONG COMMUNITIES. USING A HYPOTHETICAL CASE, STEPS IN THE PROCESSING OF A JUVENILE ARE DESCRIBED, WITH EMPHASIS ON DECISIONMAKING POINTS AND DIVERSION OPPORTUNITIES. AFTER ARREST, IF THE JUVENILE SERVICES SECTION OFFICER DECIDES THAT THE OFFENDER SHOULD NOT BE DIVERTED, THE CASE GOES TO THE FAMILY COURT INTAKE UNIT OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, FOLLOWED BY A PRELIMINARY HEARING AND INVESTIGATION INTO THE JUVENILE'S HOME AND SCHOOL BACKGROUND. THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED TO THE FAMILY COURT FOR A FINAL HEARING WHEN THE JUDGE DECIDES DISPOSITION OR DISMISSES THE CASE. APPEAL PROCEDURES ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. FLOW CHARTS ILLUSTRATE THE ENTIRE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESS. JUVENILE RIGHTS DURING ARREST PROCEDURES, SUCH AS QUESTIONING AND SEARCHES ARE IDENTIFIED. THE PROCESS AND LEGALITIES OF JUVENILE RECORDS AND FINGERPRINTS ARE ALSO EXAMINED. ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM BECOMING DELINQUENTS AND TO EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. PREVENTIVE ACTIVITIES ENCOMPASS FAMILY SERVICES, COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, WHILE ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION CONSIST OF DAY SERVICES PROGRAMS, RESTITUTION, AND DIVERSION. THE BOOK CONCLUDES WITH A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION. FOOTNOTES FOLLOW EACH CHAPTER. (MJM)