NCJ Number
100772
Date Published
1985
Length
45 pages
Annotation
This analysis of juvenile justice issues (since the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act was enacted in 1974) concludes that the emerging agenda of reform questions deinstitutionalization and diversion and focuses on formal, restrictive responses and punishment of serious offenders.
Abstract
The report highlights current trends in juvenile justice: increasing police referrals to juvenile court, declining youth population and juvenile arrests, and increasing severity of juvenile court sanctions. It examines data, from the U.S. Census Bureau's ''Children in Custody' series, which show a steady decline in detention admissions from 1974-1982 but longer lengths of stay. In training schools, both admissions and lengths of stay increased. Also considered are jurisdictional differences and privately operated correctional facilities. Overall, the juvenile justice system is growing more formal, restrictive, and punitive, and facilities are filled increasingly with black and Hispanic youth. Urgent policy issues raised by the data are discussed. Tables and 22 references.