LAW, MENTAL DISORDERS AND THE JUVENILE PROCESS, V 1

• NCJ Number: 18963
• Author(s): S DASH; A B POPKIN; W SHORR; F J LIPPERT
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 203 pages
• Grant Number(s): PR-1600(C4)
• Contract Number(s): 89-80056
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: District of Columbia Bar Assoc
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS IS VOLUME ONE OF A FOUR-VOLUME REPORT ON A STUDY WHICH EXAMINED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JUVENILE COURT'S SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AND HANDLING EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

Abstract

THIS VOLUME EXAMINES REFERRALS MADE TO THE CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC OF THE JUVENILE COURT DURING ONE PERIOD (MAY 1969 TO DECEMBER 1969) OF THIS FIVE-YEAR STUDY (1967-1971). ANALYSES OF THE REFERRALS AND A SAMPLE OF CHILDREN NOT REFERRED, PLUS INTERVIEWS WITH PROBATION OFFICERS REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE OR CONSISTANT PROGRAM FOR ITS DETECTION WITHIN THE COURT; THAT MOST QUESTIONS ASKED OF THE CLINIC WERE DIAGNOSTIC AND GENERAL AND PRODUCE STEREOTYPED AND UNIMPLEMENTABLE REPORTS; AND THAT THE REFERRAL PROCESS DID NOT DETECT MUCH SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISORDER AND ORGANIC PATHOLOGY IN THE JUVENILE COURT POPULATION. A MODEL, IMPLEMENTING THE JUVENILE COURT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REFER OUT AND TO REHABILITATE THE EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED, IS RECOMMENDED PROVIDING FOR SCREENING FOR EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE AT INTAKE, CLASSIFICATION FOR INDIVIDUALIZED DISPOSITIONS AND MATCHING OF EACH DELINQUENT WITH HIS PROBATION OFFICER. THE POSSIBLE USES OF CRIMINAL LAW IDEAS SUCH AS INCOMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL, THE INSANITY DEFENSE, ARE ALSO EXPLAINED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)