PROSECUTION IN THE JUVENILE COURTS - GUIDELINES FOR THE FUTURE

• NCJ Number: 12901
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 373 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-71-109
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Boston University
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Technical Information Service; National Institute of Justice/

Annotation

GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL PROSECUTION PROGRAM FOR THE BOSTON JUVENILE COURT.

Abstract

MODERN PROSECUTORS KNOW THAT THE GROWING NUMBER OF LEGAL ISSUES BEING RAISED IN JUVENILE PROCEEDINGS, ALONG WITH EXPANDING DEFENSE COUNSEL PARTICIPATION, NECESSITATES INCREASINGLY EFFECTIVE PROSECUTION. THE AUTHORS FORMULATED THESE GUIDELINES AFTER A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THE BOSTON JUVENILE COURT AND THE ROLE OF THE PROSECUTOR WITHIN IT. THE MODEL PROGRAM FOR BOSTON PRESENTS CONCRETE OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES FOR JUVENILE PROSECUTION, SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF PROSECUTORS AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESS, RECOMMENDED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PROSECUTION AND OTHER JUVENILE JUSTICE AGENCIES, AND SUGGESTED CRITERIA FOR A JUVENILE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN AREAS SUCH AS PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT SERVICES. THE AUTHOR ANALYZES THIS MODEL PROGRAM'S APPLICABILITY TO JUVENILE COURTS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. THE REPORT INCLUDES A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM, HIGHLIGHTING THE INCREASED EMPHASIS ON PROCEDURES TO SAFEGUARD JUVENILES' RIGHTS. THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY INCLUDED A SURVEY OF THE LEGAL LITERATURE, A QUESTIONNAIRE MAILED TO JUDGES IN 68 CITIES, INTERVIEWS, AND DIRECT OBSERVATION OF COURTROOM ACTIVITY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)