NCJ Number
191644
Date Published
2000
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper briefly discusses the use and impact of juvenile records in the adult criminal court system and the need for enhanced records and information movement between the juvenile and criminal court system.
Abstract
Previous research has indicated a trend in making juvenile court records more open and available to the criminal courts and prosecutors. The result of this trend is typically longer sentences and a greater chance of incarceration. However, only 24 States allow prosecutors access to juvenile court records and only 19 States allow juvenile records to be used at sentencing. It is also seen that without access to juvenile records, juveniles with significant juvenile offense records are viewed in the criminal court as first time offenders. Prior research has shown that offending history is one of the best predictors of future criminality. So, given the trend in making juvenile court records more accessible in criminal court sentencing, recommendations were made in the improvement of records and information availability and movement of information between systems and from the juvenile court to the adult criminal court.