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Serious Juvenile Offender - A Survey of Criminal Justice Practitioners

NCJ Number
71063
Author(s)
D B Chein; J K Johnson
Date Published
1980
Length
49 pages
Annotation
This report deals with attitudes of Minnesota juvenile justice personnel in referring certain juvenile offenders to adult court and also deals with referral patterns in that State.
Abstract
Questionnaires were mailed to a sample of judges, county attorneys, defense attorneys, juvenile corrections personnel, and juvenile police officers in Minnesota to obtain their views on referring those juveniles classified as serious offenders to adult court. Information on current referral patterns in Minnesota was ascertained from additional questions included only in those questionnaires mailed to county attorneys. Questionnaires were completed during November and December 1979. An overall response rate of 74 percent indicates that generalizations can be made from the results of this survey. Major findings show that almost all juvenile justice personnel in Minnesota believe that a group of juveniles exists for whom current treatment options in Minnesota are inadequate, particularly those juveniles who committed violent personal offenses and repeated property offenses. These offenders are usually perceived as having extensive delinquent histories with a pattern of increasing severity over time. Most respondents believe that new treatment options should be developed for those juveniles who are not currently receiving adequate treatment, preferably a secure facility for serious offenders. Opinions on automatic referrals of juvenile delinquents to adult courts differ according to the geographic location of respondents. For violent crimes and moving traffic offenses, nonmetropolitan area respondents are more likely than metropolitan respondents to favor automatic referral. Respondents do not differ in their opinion on automatic referral of juveniles who commit property crimes. However, opinions on automatic referral to adult court differ according to the profession of the respondent, with juvenile officers and county attorneys more likely to favor referral for all types of offenses, and defense attorneys less likely to favor referral. Most respondents oppose changing the age at which juveniles can be referred to adult court and oppose eliminating the requirement that juveniles referred to adult court must be found not suitable for treatment or must endanger the public safety. Data on referrals of juveniles to adult court during the first 6 months of 1979 indicate that almost one-half of the referrals were made in metropolitan area counties. Tables are included and the survey questionnaire is appended. (Author abstract modified)