NCJ Number
44937
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
IN THIS AUDIO CASSETTE, JUDGES AND JUVENILE DIVISION SPECIALISTS DISCUSS THE GROWING PROBLEM OF HARDCORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND THE THREAT THEY POSE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
WHILE A NEVADA JUDGE CONTENDS THAT MORE EDUCATION FOR POLICE, HIGHER SALARIES, AND MORE JUDGES ARE NEEDED TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF JUVENILE CRIME AND HARDCORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS, A FLORIDA JUDGE VOICES SKEPTICISM OF SUCH 'WAR ON CRIME' TACTICS, ARGUING THAT THE HARDCORE JUVENILE IS BEYOND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM'S ABILITY TO COPE. AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCREASES IN THE MANPOWER AND SCOPE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, HE RECOMMENDS EXPANDED USE OF REMANDS TO THE ADULT COURT AND OF INCAPACITATION OF PROVEN HARDCORE JUVENILE CRIMINALS. A COLORADO DISTRICT ATTORNEY ARGUES THAT THE JUVENILE CRIME PROBLEM IS IN PART DUE TO THE POST-WORLD WAR 2 BABY BOOM, THAT THIS FACTOR HAS SERVED TO INFLATE THE RANKS OF HARDCORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS (5 PERCENT OF ALL OFFENDERS), AND THAT DIVERSION OF SUCH OFFENDERS IS A WASTE OF TIME AND RESOURCES. HE CONTENDS THAT 75 PERCENT OF ALL EXPENDITURES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO 'SOFT-CORE OFFENDERS' FOR WHOM THE EXISTING PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND FISCAL RESOURCES HOLD SOME HOPE OF REHABILITATION. THE REMAINING 25 PERCENT SHOULD BE DEVOTED TO THE WAREHOUSING OF HARDCORE OFFENDERS, WHOM HE CHARACTERIZES AS BEYOND HOPE. FURTHER, IT IS ARGUED THAT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS ON THE ROAD TO EXTINCTION, DUE TO THE INCREASING CRIMINAL SOPHISTICATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. FINALLY, AN ADMINISTRATOR FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE OUTLINES THE CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HARDCORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS. THEY ARE HYPERAGGRESSIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH DEEP-SEATED CRIMINAL IMPULSES WHO SUFFER FROM BASIC EMOTIONAL FAULTS. THEY ARE ALSO UNYIELDING TO REMEDIAL TREATMENT AND GENERALLY IN NEED OF INCAPACITATION.