NCJ Number
86182
Journal
New Designs for Youth Development Volume: 3 Issue: 5 Dated: (September/October 1982) Pages: 25-29
Date Published
1982
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The juvenile justice system can be improved by clarifying its purpose and basic operating principles and procedures, as well as by shaping justice system personnel as agents of change.
Abstract
The system can be seen as aiming for community protection, offender assistance, decisionmaking efficiency, and community assistance in delinquency prevention and control. Clarifying these purposes can be a basis for system improvement. System personnel can be encouraged to change offenders, component operations, and community conditions promoting delinquency, as well as to build and improve community resources for delinquency prevention and control. The justice system needs a systemwide case management effort, a clear set of operating standards, and a set of clear steps in the decisionmaking process. The decision point sequence outlined can provide the needed framework for designing a systematic, cooperative, and interdisciplinary approach in the juvenile justice system. Also required is the constructive use of authority. A six-step approach for considering how to best use authority is provided. Justice system components are pictured.