U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice Partnership To Study Waiver Effects: A Final Report
NCJ Number
              205508

Author(s)
          Cindy J. Smith Ph.D.;
                        Kimberly S. Craig M.A.;
                        Kathleen Block Ph.D.;
                        Angela Patrick M.S.;
                        Amy Hall
Date Published

December 2000
Length
              90 pages
Annotation
              In the 1990's, the Maryland legislature passed legislation that mandated waiver to adult-court jurisdiction for juveniles charged with 14 specified serious crimes; this study presents data and analysis relevant to the impact of this legislation on the State's justice system and the juveniles affected by the legislation.
Abstract
              Maryland has developed five legislative criteria for judicial decisions regarding a waiver or reverse-waiver hearing: age, mental and physical health, amenability to treatment, crime seriousness/role in the crime, and public safety. This study obtained data on the number of juveniles affected by the waiver process and waiver processing time, how youths processed in the juvenile justice system differed from those processed in the adult system, and how the process of determining jurisdiction in a juvenile case was implemented within courtroom workgroups across counties. These issues were addressed through multiple data sources that included interviews, file reviews, and automated data. The study found that 243 inmates under 18 years old at intake were housed in Maryland jails on August 25, 2000. Only half of the jails surveyed (n=12) housed these youths separate from the adult jail population. The 3 facilities that housed most of the juveniles (n=155), however, maintained separate housing for juveniles; 19 of 23 jails allowed juveniles and adults to have contact with one another through meals and other activities. In addition, 18 of 23 jails had youths and adults attending treatment and/or education classes together. This report recommends eliminating the co-mingling of juveniles and adults in jails. Of 104 youths studied, 71 spent an average of 183 days awaiting disposition from the time of their arrest. The report recommends reducing the number of days juveniles must wait in an adult facility for a jurisdictional hearing. The study also developed profiles for the juveniles involved in four pathway categories: at-risk, reverse waived, waived, and legislatively waived. The analysis notes the major difference between the various categories of juveniles and identifies areas of concern and need for further research. Among the findings were that the majority of the juveniles were Black in disproportion to representation in the general population of the State and were from urban counties. Legislatively waived youths were more likely to have had or witnessed serious injury and were more likely to have been exposed to trauma, indicating a need for mental health evaluation and services. One recommendation stemming from this data is that all youths begin processing in the juvenile justice system, but with a presumption of waiver for legislative-waiver offenses. This would allow judicial review of each juvenile prior to being included in the waiver process. An increase in mental health services is recommended for youths in both juvenile and adult facilities. The study also examined the similarities and differences in the waiver and reverse-waiver process at the county level. The overall conclusion of the study is that if action is not taken to deal with the extraordinary number of juveniles legislatively waived in Maryland each year, the State will continue to put 1,000 youths per year into adult facilities where there are very few services tailored to their needs. These juveniles will eventually be released from adult facilities into the community absent any benefits from rehabilitative treatment, thus compromising public safety. 11 tables, 4 figures, and 29 references
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        98-CE-VX-0018
                                JAIB-98-048


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Legislation/Policy Analysis
    
  
  
Date Published: December 1, 2000
    
          Downloads
        
                      *No download available*

Related Datasets
        
                      http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR04077
Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Juvenile court waiver
        Juvenile inmates
        Juvenile justice policies
        Juvenile statistics
        Juveniles in adult facilities



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Promoting School Safety Through Multi-tiered Systems of Support for Student Mental Health
                  A Novel Two-Step Method for the Detection of Organic Gunshot Residue for Forensic Purposes: Fast Fluorescence Imaging Followed by Raman Microspectroscopic Identification
                  Investigation of Falsified Documents via Direct Analyte-Probed Nanoextraction Coupled to Nanospray Mass Spectrometry, Fluorescence Microscopy, and Raman Spectroscopy
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov