Chapter 14

Chapter 15Juvenile Crime Control

America also has a juvenile crime problemThere are no ideal sources of juvenile crime dataFBIs Uniform Crime Reports cannot be usedNCVS is limitedJuvenile arrests can be tallied, but arrests are only a proxy for crimes committedSelf-report surveys are possible, but also limitedJuvenile Crime

The juvenile justice system is a fairly recent creationIts original guiding principle was parens patriaeJuvenile court takes over where family failedHow do the adult and juvenile systems differ?ProcedureAdjudicatory hearingsLess formalizedProceedings more tightly controlledDetention centersReliance on probationDifferences Between the Adult and Juvenile Justice Systems

A number of recent reforms in juvenile justice have blurred the lines between the adult and juvenile justice systemsThey includeJuvenile waiversSentencingProcedural protectionsMore accountabilityLess privacyRecent Reforms in Juvenile Justice

What are juvenile waivers?A method of trying juveniles as adults, of waiving them to adult courtWaivers have been around for some time, but the criteria have changed recentlyLegislation has been enacted, for example (CAs Prop. 21)Are waivers being used more frequently?It is not clearIt is also not clear whether waivers affect sentencingJuvenile Waivers

Juvenile sentences have changed over timeOffense-based sentencing has gained prominence over needs-based sentencingIncrease in blended sentences (combines probation with time in an adult correctional facility)Sentencing guidelines are being used more frequentlyIncrease in extended jurisdictionSentencing

In 1996, nearly of juveniles were processed informallyIn 1999, only 17 percent wereThese numbers signal increased concern with offender accountabilityStates have also changed their screening procedure (moving it from probation officers to prosecutors)More Accountability

Records of juvenile court proceedings have historically been off limitsStates have begun to change thisLaws providing for open hearingsIncreased public/media access to names/addresses of adjudicated juvenilesMore disclosure of court recordsLess Privacy

Juveniles have historically enjoyed fewer procedural protections than adults, but this is changingA short list of such changesRight to counselWritten notice of chargesProof beyond a reasonable doubtLimits on juvenile waiversLimits on preventive detention of juvenilesProcedural Protections

Blueprints ProgramsDeterrent effectSustained effectMulti-site replicationSome Successes: Blueprints

This is a comprehensive program intended to prevent drug abuseUnique featuresTakes place in a school settingRelies on families/community membersHelps youth identify social pressures to do drugs and teaches drug avoidance skillsApplies active social learning techniquesParent-principal committeesMedia coverage, community organization, and health policy componentMidwestern Prevention Project

BBBSA provides adult support, mentorship, and friendship to at-risk youthUnique featuresOne-on-one interactionsScreening for volunteers, and an orientationYouth carefully matched to volunteersBig Brothers and Big Sisters

FFT is aimed at families with adolescent youth who have displayed antisocial and maladaptive behaviorUnique featuresBetween 8 and 26 hours of service timeFlexible methods of deliveryFocus on protective factors and reduction of riskProgram phases include engagement, motivation, assessment, behavior change, and generalizationFunctional Family Therapy

We already saw that life skills training doesnt look too effective for adults, but it looks promising for youthUnique features3-year intervention designed to prevent/reduce gateway drug usePrimarily implemented in school classrooms by teachers15 sessions in year one, 10 in year two, and 5 in year threeComponents include self-management, social skills, and information and skills specifically related to drug useTraining techniques include instruction, demonstration, feedback, reinforcement, and practiceVery cheap!Life Skills Training

MST appears effectiveUnique featuresHome-based services60 hours of contact over four monthsMultisystemic Therapy

NFP consists of home visitations by nurses during a womans pregnancy and during the first who years after birthUnique featuresHelp women improve there prenatal health and outcomes of pregnancyImprove care provided to infants/toddlersImprove womens personal development (planning for future pregnancy, educational achievement, and work participation)Nurse-Family Partnership

MTFC is an alternative to institutional methods of dealing with severe criminal behavior in young peopleUnique featuresFamilies are recruited, trained, and closely supervisedClear and consistent limits with follow-through on consequencesPositive reinforcement for appropriate behaviorYouth relationships with a mentoring adultSeparation from delinquent peersMultidimensional Treatment Foster Care

BPP is aimed at reducing and preventing bully/victim problems in schoolsUnique featuresSchool-wide elementsQuestionnaireSchool conference dayFormation of coordinating committeeIncreased supervisionClassroom elementsRules against bullyingRegular meetingsIndividual elementsInterventions with bullies/victimsDiscussions with parentsTeachers assisted by counselors/mental healthBullying Prevention Program

PATH promotes emotional and social competency in school children and seeks to reduce aggression and behavior problemsUnique featuresCurriculum taught three times each week for 20-30 minutes per dayLessons includeIdentifying and labeling feelingsExpressing feelingsAssessing intensity of feelingsManaging feelingsUnderstanding the difference between feelings and behaviorsDelaying gratificationControlling impulsesReducing stressMany other topicsPromoting Alternative Thinking Strategies

This is a training curriculum to promote emotional and social competency in at risk childrenUnique featuresTraining for parents, teachers, and childrenEmphasis on parenting skillsEmphasis on parental interpersonal skillsClassroom management componentChildren are trained inEmotional literacyEmpathy buildingFriendship makingAnger managementProblem-solvingSchool rulesHow to succeed academicallyThe Incredible Years

Project TND is a drug abuse prevention program that targets high school youthUnique features12 class sessions that focus onListeningStereotypingMyths/denialChemical dependencyStressSelf-controlPositive thinkingOther topicsProject Towards No Drug Abuse

Apart from Blueprints, other methods of juvenile crime control includeDiversionBoot campsScared StraightTeen courtsYouth Accountability BoardsTraditional adjudicationTargeting curfew violatorsJuvenile waiversOther Approaches

What is juvenile diversion?An attempt to divert, or channel out, youthful offenders from the juvenile justice systemIt need not only focus on adjudicated youthExamples of juvenile diversionBoot campsScared StraightTeen courtsYouth accountability boardsDiversion

Do juvenile boot camps work?Almost all evaluations say noWhy dont boot camps appear to work?Too short-livedAggressive and hyper-masculine strategiesDont target the right problemsBoot Camps

Scared Straight (originally called the Juvenile Awareness Program) refers to a variety of attempts to deter young offenders and at-risk individuals from committing crimesStrategies includeTaking participants to a maximum security prison where they are told horror stories about life on the insideVideo presentationsWeb sitesDoes it work?The evidence is not encouragingWhy?May promote crimeMay present a distorted image of crimeScared Straight

Teen courts use a young offenders peers to adjudicate cases (with adult supervision)Why teen courts?Peer pressureDesire to be accepted by ones peersDo they work?Its tough to tell because of a lack of sophisticated researchEven so, little research is supportiveTeen Courts

YABs bring delinquent youth before a board of volunteers who urge the youth to sign a behavior contractUnique featuresFocus on non-violent offendersCommunity volunteers relied onCommunity members may act as mediators between offender and victimDo YABs work?There are no published evaluations of YAB effectivenessyetYouth Accountability Boards

Traditional adjudication occurs once a youth hasBeen arrestedReferred to probationCharged by a prosecutorExamples of traditional adjudication includeProbationRestitution and FinesPlacement in a correctional facilityTreatmentFoster and group homesTraditional Adjudication

Juvenile Crime ControlConclusions