NCJ Number
89638
Journal
Journal of Social Service Research Volume: 4 Issue: 3/4 Dated: (1982) Pages: 35-50
Date Published
1982
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The paper uses national data to assess four models of organization that are claimed to account for the rates at which juvenile courts commit youth to institutions -- parens patriae, community protection, organizational maintenance, and due process -- and finds that none of the models hold a statistically significant relation to commitment rates.
Abstract
The analysis implies that three typical beliefs about juvenile court models need to be revised. Support is found for only three of the models: organizational maintenance, community protection, and youth concern. Youth concern includes part of the treatment perspective normally ascribed to parens patriae, along with due process considerations. Judges report that courts simultaneously hold conflicting aims. Tables, 4 notes, and 13 references are included. (Author abstract modified)