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Conviction and Sentencing in Juvenile Versus Criminal Court

NCJ Number
191638
Author(s)
Richard E. Redding J.D.
Date Published
2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper briefly presents prior research on conviction and sentencing outcomes of juveniles in the juvenile court system versus the criminal court system.
Abstract
In reviewing previous research studies on the conviction rate and sentencing outcomes of juveniles handled within the juvenile court system versus the criminal court, the research showed that juveniles convicted in criminal court, specifically serious and violent offenders, were more likely to be incarcerated and receive longer sentences than juveniles held in the juvenile system. However, they might be released pending trial and might only serve a portion of the sentence imposed. Also, there was considerable jurisdictional variation in incarceration rates and sentence lengths. Recommendations suggests further research on the comparability of predispositional secure custody rates, conviction rates, sentences imposed, and actual time served between the juvenile versus criminal justice systems. References