NCJ Number
183238
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2000 Pages: 309-331
Date Published
June 2000
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study attempts to determine what factors shape disposition decisions for juvenile felony offenders.
Abstract
Existing research on the criteria used by juvenile court judges in choosing dispositions is limited in two respects. First, the predictor variables included in most investigations have been limited either in number or in the quality of their measurement. Second, research has not focused on sentencing decisions for serious offenders. A factorial survey of juvenile court judges suggested that judges focused primarily on offense characteristics and were influenced only marginally by offenders’ social characteristics. These findings are more consistent with the view that juvenile courts are becoming “criminalized” than with the view that individualized treatment is the goal. The article proposes an alternative interpretation: Judges may be problem solvers, trying to dispose of cases efficiently. Three findings are congruent with that position: (1) Sentencing decisions were affected by the willingness of juveniles’ parents to cooperate; (2) Attitudes toward rehabilitation did not affect the criteria used in making sentencing decisions for youthful felons; and (3) The significance of program availability; judges were more likely to incarcerate youths when no other sentencing options seemed appropriate. Notes, tables, references