ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY (MD) - COMMUNITY ARBITRATION PROVES SUCCESSFUL

• NCJ Number: 26582
• Author(s): R C HILSON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Maryland Dept of Juvenile Services
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A DESCRIPTION AND PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM IN WHICH YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS RECEIVE CITATIONS, INSTRUCTING THEM TO APPEAR BEFORE A COMMUNITY ARBITRATOR, WHO WILL DETERMINE THE DISPOSITION OF THEIR CASES.

Abstract

THE ARBITRATOR - IN A COURT-LIKE SETTING IN WHICH THE YOUTH, HIS PARENTS, AND OFTEN THE VICTIM/COMPLAINANT ARE PRESENT - WEIGHS SUCH FACTORS AS THE OFFENSE, FAMILY ENVIRONMENT, AMENABILITY TO TREATMENT, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES. HE MAY CHOOSE TO DISMISS THE CASE FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE, CLOSE THE CASE WITH A WARNING, PLACE THE YOUTH ON 90 DAY VOLUNTARY INFORMAL SUPERVISION, OR REFER THE CASE TO THE STATE'S ATTORNEY FOR PROCESSING PRIOR TO A FORMAL COURT HEARING. SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN JUNE OF 1974, THE PROGRAM HAS PROCESSED ABOUT 2000 OFFENDERS. LESS THAN EIGHT PERCENT OF THE OFFENDERS PROCESSED HAD RETURNED TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM DURING THE YEAR. A SURVEY OF THE YOUTHS, PARENTS, POLICE, COMPLAINANTS, LAWYERS, AND VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM IS SAID TO HAVE INDICATED FAVORABLE RESPONSE.