NCJ Number
170138
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1997) Pages: 104-105
Date Published
1997
Length
2 pages
Annotation
State juvenile justice legislation produced changes in many areas in 1996, including improving dispositional planning for young offenders, expanding options available to courts, prescribing policy for use of juvenile detention and corrections, and holding parents responsible for their children's crimes.
Abstract
Other changes included creating extended or special jurisdiction systems for juveniles, distinguishing young offenders who may face criminal charges in adult court, and designing and funding juvenile crime prevention. In addition, Kansas, Kentucky, Utah, and Virginia passed broad reforms of their entire juvenile justice processes. Utah created and established rules, practices, and procedures for a State juvenile court with jurisdiction for offenders up to age 21 who violated the law before age 18. Utah also established an interagency task force to study how to balance rehabilitation and accountability in juvenile justice, as well as other issues. Virginia lowered the age for certain violent juvenile felonies to 14 and required assessments that may demand restitution and community service. New York began a major reform process that is likely to be expanded in 1997. At least 13 States modified the handling of records and proceedings of juvenile courts. Recent State legislation also addresses prevention and early intervention in the lives of young people and their families, including funding of local collaborative efforts to address and prevent juvenile delinquency. Chart