NCJ Number
47790
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT SUMMARIZIES JUVENILE COURT ACTIVITIES FOR 1977 AND REVIEWS SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF ITS PRESENT OPERATION, DELINEATING POSSIBLE DIRECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE.
Abstract
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE JUVENILE COURT IS PROVIDED. UTAHANS HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNIZED AND SUPPORTED THE NEED FOR A SYSTEM OF JUSTICE SUITED TO MEET CONTINUALLY THE CHANGING NEEDS OF COMMUNITIES AND THEIR CHILDREN. THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE STATE, THE LEGISLATURES HAVE CONSIDERED THE UNIQUE PROBLEMS OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND HAVE MODIFIED AND EXPANDED THE COURT SYSTEM TO KEEP PACE WITH PROGRESS IN THE LEGAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. JUVENILE COURT JURISDICTION INCLUDES CRIMINAL LAW VIOLATIONS, CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF STATUS OFFENSES, NEGLECT OR DEPENDENCY OF CHILDREN AND DETERMINATION OF THEIR CUSTODY OR GUARDIANSHIP, MATTERS WHERE JUDICIAL CONSENT IS REQUIRED BY LAW (MARRIAGE AND EMPLOYMENT), DETERMINATIONS CONCERNING THE INTERESTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF PARENTS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE TRYING OF ADULTS FOR OFFENSES COMMITTED AGAINST CHILDREN. A CHILD IS DEFINED BY UTAH STATUTE TO BE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE. THE 1977 LEGISLATURE REMOVED ACTS OF UNGOVERNABLE AND RUNAWAY YOUTHS FROM THE JURISDICTION OF THE JUVENILE COURT. THE COURT HAS VARIOUS POWERS, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO TERMINATE THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP, TO REQUIRE PARENTAL THERAPY, AND TO PLACE THE CHILD UNDER TEMPORARY CUSTODY OR ON PROBATION. THE UTAH JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE JUDICIAL DISTRICTS WHICH ARE DETERMINED BY DEMOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS. DATA FOR DELINQUENCY REFERRAL RATES, DELINQUENCY RECIDIVISM, REPORTED OFFENSES, PROBATION, AGE, AND RACE ARE BROKEN DOWN BY DISTRICT. THE STRUCTURE OF THE COURT AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF PROBATION SERVICES ARE TREATED. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE BOARD OF JUVENILE COURT JUDGES IS COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A QUALITY JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF UTAH. THE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OF 1977 ARE OUTLINED. EXTENSIVE CHARTS, GRAPHS, AND STATISTICS ARE PROVIDED. (JSP)