bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discretionary Justice: Decision Making in a State Juvenile Parole Board
Authors: Norman Michael D. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe literature in Criminal Justice is replete with commentary on both the virtues and injustices associated with adult parole board decision‐making. There has been far less attention paid to juvenile parole boards in part because so few of them exist. Institutional release decisions in most states still remain the purview of juvenile institutional staff members. This paper examines parole Authority decision‐making in a citizen‐dominated state juvenile parole board. The paper focuses on the conduct of hearings, dispositional guidelines, criteria used by board members in decision‐making and the advocacy role of parole officers and institutional staff. The influence of deinstitutionalization and least restrictive policies on parole Authority decision making is also discussed.During recent years, the literature in criminal justice has become replete with commentary on the virtues and injustices associated with parole board decision‐making. Consequently, many questions have been raised about disparate sentences, the criteria used by parole boards in making decisions, unstructured discretion, and the pressing need for guidelines and statistically accurate parole prediction instruments.The intent of this paper is to examine parole decision‐making in a state juvenile parole board where individualized treatment and rehabilitation have been long standing goals. The paper focuses upon the criteria used by board members in decision‐making, the conduct of hearings, the guideline system used to determine a recommended length of confinement and the advocacy role of parole officers and institutional staff. The influence of deinstitutionalization and least restrictive policies on parole board decision‐making is also discussed.The author is presently completing the second year of a two‐year appointment as a member of the Parole Authority under discussion. Since December, 1983, the author has continuously observed and participated in approximately 300 individual parole hearings over thirty‐seven hearing days.
Teen Court: A Way to Combat Teenage Crime and Chemical Abuse
Authors: Rothstein Robert N. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThough some controversy surrounds the effectiveness of juvenile diversion programs, at least one program, the Teen Court Program in Odessa, Texas, seems to be having an impact. After 1,987 trials, the recidivism rate is less than 15 percent for traffic offenses and zero for first time Class C and Class B misdemeanors. The success of that program has lead to its expansion, and now the program includes first time drug offenders who not only go through the restitution phase of Teen Court but are required to attend, with their parents, a drug education and prevention workshop. After two years of operation, there has not been one repeat case of drug usage by a first offender referred to Teen Court. The procedures followed in the workshop and the results are discussed.
Youth In Prisons and Training Schools: Perceptions and Consequences of the Treatment‐Custody Dichotomy
Authors: Forst Martin , Fagan Jeffrey , Vivona T. Scott 
Published: July 2009

AbstractTransfer (or waiver) of juveniles to criminal court is one of the most extreme responses to serious youth crime. Although many states have recently revised their transfer statutes, and the number of juveniles prosecuted as adults increases each year, little research has been conducted to assess the correctional experiences of delinquent youth convicted in criminal court and sentenced to adult prison. Evaluations of such experiences are important to policymakers and juvenile justice officials who are considering juvenile transfers as a strategy for securing longer and harsher confinement for offenders. Based on interviews with 59 chronic juvenile offenders placed in state training schools, and 81 comparable youths sentenced to adult correctional facilities, this article presents a comparison of offenders' perceptions of their correctional experiences. Juveniles incarcerated in training schools give more positive evaluations of treatment and training programs, general services, and institutional personnel than do those youths in prison. Juveniles housed in institutions which emphasize security over treatment — i.e., prisons — are more often victimized during their confinement than youths in the treatment‐oriented training schools. Once placed in prisons, adolescent inmates are more likely to be victims of prison violence and crime from both inmates and staff. These research results suggest some paradoxical effects of the treatment‐custody distinction implicit in judicial waiver practices. The differential socialization into crime and violence for youths in adult prisons may increase the risks of having these types of behavior repeated by transferred youths once released.
The Evolution and Application of a Screening Instrument to Identify Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Brier Norman , Carlson Elizabeth , Kaufman Judith 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe evolution and application of this screening instrument, the Adolescent Developmental Disabilities Screening (ADDS), is based on the spectrum model of developmental disabilities. Scale construction is outlined, including the selection and revision of screening criteria and tasks. Results of multiple discriminant, factor, and correlational analyses are reported and suggest the instrument to be a powerfully discriminating measure, and reliable internally as well over time. Development and application of the measure are discussed in the context of an identified need within the juvenile justice system where the prevalence of developmental disabilities far exceeds that of the general population. The screening test appears to be well‐suited for a variety of human service and educational settings.
Parental Kidnapping: A Survey of Left‐Behind Parents
Authors: Janvier Rosemary F. , McCormick Kathleen , Donaldson Rose 
Published: July 2009

AbstractParental kidnapping is examined through a survey instrument developed by Rosemary Farley Janvier. The survey was tested and mailed to 283 left‐behind parent victims nationwide; 65 parents elected to participate (a 23% return rate).The survey results yielded a statistical profile of parental kidnappings, with distinct differences between domestic and international cases. The differences were both in gender of the perpetrator and the victims, marital, and custodial status. The circumstances surrounding the kidnappings, use and effectiveness of existing legal remedies as preventive measures, law enforcement, attorneys, and the court̂s responses, both pre‐kidnapping and post‐kidnapping and the emotional and financial costs to the parent victims were assessed.Recommendations by the left‐behind parents for prevention of parental kidnappings are offered for legislative changes and procedural changes for the law enforcement community, attorneys, and the judiciary in decisions to be made to ultimately protect children from this trauma through prevention.Special recognition to the staff of the Ocean County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women, Ann Finnegan, Project Coordinator, and Lynn Ross, clerical support.
Structuring Independent Adoptions: A Report of One Court's Program
Authors: Briggs William L. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe private adoption procedures established by statute in many states, allow for the placement of a child into the custody of perspective adoptive parents without an investigation by a licensed placement agency. Courts, which issue Waivers of Prior Written Approval, often do so without sufficient information about the Petitioners. The Allen Superior Court of Indiana has developed a procedure designed to furnish the court with sufficient information and to aid the adoptive parents through an education program. Results of the evaluation of the program are reported. Generally, the program was determined to be of value to the court.
A National Survey of Juvenile Risk Assessment
Authors: Towberman Donna B. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractJuvenile courts in the United State are using risk assessment to measure relative levels of risk posed by delinquent offenders. Risk assessment aids in decisions about restrictiveness, supervision and the type and intensity of treatment needed. The current study surveyed all states in an effort to define the current state‐of‐the‐art in juvenile risk assessment. The results indicate most states have some semblance of risk assessment of juvenile offenders, but a minority of states have formal risk assessment instruments. The predominate risk factors measured in the 50 states include measures of offense severity, past history of offenses, age of the offender, psychological measures, use of community resources, substance abuse, prior institutionalization, family problems, peer group association and absconding. This qualitative research provides an overview of the scope and sophistication of juvenile risk assessment and may provide models for states wishing to implement risk assessment.
The Violent Female Juvenile Offender: An Ignored Minority Within the Juvenile Justice System
Authors: Tracy Sharon , Shelden Randall G. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractLittle attention is given to the violent female adolescent. While there is no argument that males commit most of the violent crimes (both juveniles and adults), violent females may demand the attention of policy‐makers and administrators. Historically there has been a lack of program offerings for these offenders. This article examines violent female adolescent offenders referred to the Clark County (Las Vegas, Nevada) Juvenile Court Services in two different years (1985 and 1988). This examination includes a review of programs and alternatives for these offenders and a review of what is currently being done by the juvenile justice system to accommodate this population. Dispositions and programmatic treatment offerings for violent adolescent males and females are compared. Recommendations are offered for the juvenile justice system for consideration.
Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse Intervention: The Impact of Juvenile Court Hearings and Felony Trial Diversions
Authors: Skibinski Gregory J. 
Published: July 2009

Traditional felony prosecutions of child sexual abusers are problematic because physical evidence is uncommon (Bulkley, 1982b), making the charges difficult to prove. In such instances, the case will hinge on the testimony of the child victim, who may be secondarily victimized by the process. When the accused is a family member, the problem is compounded if the child is afraid to testify against a relative (Costin, et al, 1991). Necessary treatment for the offender andvictim is not forthcoming in traditional felony litigation and the already disrupted family will suffer further. As a corrective response, mental health and legal professionals have collaborated to create innovative intervention strategies in many jurisdictions. In 1981, more than 300 such programs were identified by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (unpublished list). The number is probably higher today.This article investigates child sexual abuse intervention strategies by focusing on three jurisdictions in which felony trial diversions, juvenile court petitions, and treatment programs are intertwined into intervention strategies for first‐time, intrafamilial offenders. The purpose of this article is to describe the three programs, then analyze the strategies to determine the type of services each client received.
The Juvenile Justice Assessment Instrument
Authors: Stein Abby , Lewis Dorothy Otnow , Yeager Catherine A. 
Published: July 2009

Abstract This article presents the development of a new assessment instrument for use with juvenile delinquents: The Juvenile Justice Assessment Instrument (JJAI).The term “juvenile delinquency” covers a multitude of antisocial behaviors engaged in by adolescents. Research indicates that certain intrinsic vulnerabilities may combine with environmental stressors to engender maladaptive behaviors. Unfortunately, these potentially treatable vulnerabilities often remain unrecognized in the delinquent population.Because of the sheer numbers of children entering the juvenile justice system each year, it is impossible to ensure that each child will receive a full evaluation from a trained clinician. The JJAI offers those who work with juvenile delinquents an economical, yet sophisticated, assessment tool for evaluating youngsters and recommending appropriate treatment and disposition. This paper also presents the results of two field trials with the JJAI. In a juvenile justice setting, data elicited by the JJAI was compared to data gathered by the court. In a residential treatment setting, data elicited by the JJAI was compared with information gathered by staff at the treatment facility.A discussion of the obstacles faced by those who interview delinquents, and strategies within the JJAI to overcome them, are discussed.
Serving Juvenile Time in New Mexico: A Comparison of Institutionalized and Reintegrated Male Offenders*
Authors: Selph Andrew F. , Winfree L. Thomas , Mays G. Larry 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn New Mexico, all male juveniles sentenced to serve time in a state facility eventually go to the New Mexico Boys' School (NMBS), including males who are candidates for a reintegration center. The current study compares a random sample (n = 98) of youths released from the NMBS with a group (n = 92) who completed a reintegration program. Two key questions guided the research: (1) What role do personal‐biographical or socio‐legal factors play in the decision to assign a youth to the reintegration center rather than to have him remain at the Boys' School? and (2) Among juveniles who participated in either program, what personal‐biographical or socio‐legal factors provided the greatest insights into the length of their stay in state custody? By addressing these questions, the current study not only examines institutional decision‐making processes, but also addresses the outcomes that result from the decisions. The policy implications of both the processes and the outcomes are addressed in this article.
Overview of the Faith, Law, and Morality Project of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and Forum Presentations
Authors: Johns Krista 
Published: July 2009

On Monday, November 27, 1995, twenty‐five judges, faith leaders, and community representatives converged on Lake Tahoe for the start of a bold experiment. Each of the participants had been formally invited to participate in a forum to discuss the important moral and ethical issues facing society today. Set in a retreat environment at Incline Village, Nevada, this forum would open a dialogue between judges, members of the faith community, and others about common issues and concerns.The participants' mission was to work in groups to draft a joint resolution – a call to action for judges, faith leaders and the community. Their work would be inspired by short reflections on faith, law and morality offered by fellow participants. The discussion format would alternate between small groups of six to seven each and the group as a whole. Most important would be the opportunity to listen; the diversity of individual viewpoints would enrich the participants' thinking on the fundamental yet complex interrelation between law and morality.How did it work? Exceedingly well.
What's “New” About the Balanced Approach?
Authors: Bazemore Gordon 
Published: July 2009

AbstractOver the past decade, many juvenile justice professionals became familiar with the “Balanced Approach as a new mission for juvenile probation. In recent months, a number of jurisdictions have adopted the Balanced Approach, by statute or policy, as the mission for their juvenile courts and juvenile justice systems. However, a great deal of misunderstanding persists about the meaning and practical differences between the Balanced Approach and other intervention models. While both quality and consistency of implementation of “balanced” policy and practice vary widely, some juvenile justice managers are using this new mission as a tool or “roadmap” for comprehensive re‐structuring of juvenile justice systems and agencies. This paper argues that when viewed as a guide to systemic, rather than programmatic, reform, the Balanced Approach can be clearly distinguished from both the traditional individual treatment and the new retributive/punitive juvenile justice missions. Six critical differences between the Balanced Approach and these missions are described.
A Longitudinal Analysis of the Link Between Learning Disabilities and Juvenile Delinquency in Mexican American School‐Age Youth
Authors: Katims David S. , Yin Zenong , Zapata Jesse T. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractStudents with Learning Disabilities (LD) are a heterogeneous group of children who share the common characteristic of school difficulty and failure. More students in American schools are identified as Learning Disabled than any other type of disability under current federal law. The present study is a longitudinal survey that was designed to (a) test four hypothesized mediating links within the School Failure Rationale connecting juvenile delinquency (JD) to LD, and (b) apply the School Failure Rationale in the context of a low Socioeconomic Status, all‐Mexican American group of youngsters (n = 75; mean CA = 12.9; IQ = 88). A path analysis was conducted to determine significance between juvenile delinquency and the mediating variables of self‐esteem, peer delinquency, school dissatisfaction, and locus of control. Results indicate that all of the mediating variables except self‐esteem played either a direct or indirect role in self‐reported delinquency in year one or in year three of this study.
Utah legislation and systems change
Authors: Mccully Sharon P. , Haymond J. Brent , Springgate Margaret , Howe Bryant 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTJuvenile and family court judges know bureaucratic delays pose serious harm to child development and that extended stays in foster care can result in juvenile delinquency. Utah judges and legislators together searched successfully for new ways to improve court systems and to better serve the children and families of their state.
Child abuse and neglect:A National Summary Of State Statutes
Authors: Dobbin Shirley A. , Gatowski Sophia I. , Springgate Margaret 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTEffective court improvements must be based on comprehensive, baseline analysis of state child abuse and neglect statutes. This information will provide policy makers with improved tracking and evaluation opportunities as significant statutory changes are contemplated in pending federal initiatives and state court improvement activities. This article provides excerpts of a comprehensive national study undertaken to determine the level of uniformity or variance in statutes since the initiation of federal legislation attempting to improve state practice in the handling of child abuse and neglect cases. The state‐by‐state information is designed to provide diverse jurisdictions with an opportunity for comparative statutory analysis. The complete, 50 state Matrix of State Statutes Pertaining to Child Abuse, Neglect and Dependency is scheduled for publication later this year.
‘Getting Tough’ With Youth Legislative waiver as crime control
Authors: MERLO ALIDA V. , BENEKOS PETER J. , COOK WILLIAM J. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTIn the rush to punish juvenile offenders and to reform the juvenile justice system, legislatures have redefined the philosophy of juvenile justice and restructured the waiver process. As the convergence of juvenile and adult systems continues, the future of juvenile justice has become the new object of politicalization. This paper critiques the politics of ‘get‐tough’ legislation and the implications of legislative waivers. The authors review the language and intent of waiver reforms, images of juvenile justice and the concept of crime control.
The Fight For Survival:African‐American gang members and their families in a segregated society
Authors: Brown William B. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTWe can no longer trivialize, or ignore, the impact of structural impediments, racial discrimination, and racial segregation in our analysis of African‐American youth gangs in America's inner cities. These issues set a stage where 79 African‐American youngsters view their gang affiliation as a means for survival. The present study, conducted over a four‐year period, explores structural and racial barriers that many African‐Americans, parents and children, encounter regularly. The participants, gang members and their parents, reveal their frustrations about the lack of opportunities for many inner city African‐Americans, their experiences as targets of racial discrimination and segregation, and their confinement to deteriorating, poverty‐stricken neighborhoods in Detroit.
Lessons for parents, teachers, and juvenile probation officers: seven ideal criteria for constructively evaluating discipline
Authors: ROGERS JOSEPH W. 
Published: July 2009

By delineating a basic set of terms, this paper seeks to enhance the appreciation, understanding, and discussion of constructive discipline. Advocating initiative by our nation's juvenile probation officers, the author views this cadre of some 18,000 JPOs as an important catalyst in the never‐ending task of delinquency prevention. In an era of growing harshness toward youthful offenders, we must remain cognizant that much of the chronic violence which we justly abhor has roots in prior parental malpractice.Our approach provides a model to place three major role‐players — parents, teachers, JPOs — all “on the same page,” to borrow a popular metaphor. We focus on seven criteria for evaluating discipline by each participant, while furnishing a supplementary framework to amplify task awareness. Despite already having excessive caseloads, JPOs are encouraged to serve as outreach agents in a common cause. The tables seek to provide officers a basic set of “handouts” for distribution at panels, workshops, seminars, school visits, and parent conferences. Parents should especially appreciate that the seven criteria give guidelines not only for their disciplinary practices, but also for those of teachers and JPOs
Detention Decision‐Making in a Predominantly Hispanic Region: Rural and Non‐Rural Differences
Authors: MAUPIN JAMES R. , BOND‐MAUPIN LISA J. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThis study examines the implementation of juvenile detention policy by comparing decision making in two jurisdictions where Hispanics represent the numerical majority of the population. One jurisdiction is rural and the other is a jurisdiction with over 1000,000 population. Interviews with juvenile justice probation and parole officers and judges are combined with a quantitative analysis of official records from 1994. Detention decision making is different in these jurisdictions. There is more formal processing and detention of juveniles in the rural jurisdiction. This is attributable to a perception of the community as heterogeneous rather than homogeneous, and a lack of alternatives as compared to the non‐rural jurisdiction.
Public‐Private Venture to HELP Youth in Juvenile Detention
Authors: ROUSH DAVID W. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThe most reliable barometer on the status of Michigan's children reported a noteworthy decrease in juvenile crime in Calhoun County, Michigan, during the period of time when the W. K. Kellogg Foundation funded a model program for the county's most criminally active juveniles. This article summarizes how the confluence of need and resources led to the development of an exemplary solution to some of the problems facing contemporary juvenile justice programs and services. The irony is not that a public‐private venture to develop effective community‐based collaboratives proved successful, but that this effort occurred in the local juvenile detention center.