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Overview: Children and the State

NCJ Number
114922
Journal
Yale Law and Policy Review Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring/Summer 1987) Pages: 261-266
Author(s)
A Specter
Date Published
1987
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Senator Arlen Specter identifies the major responsibilities that government has to children, including protection and aid for children who are troubled, abused or victimized and quality education for all children.
Abstract
At the federal level, legislation has been passed to help victimized children, namely the Missing Children's Assistance Act and the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Additionally, the U.S. Justice Department has funded a National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse, and other federal programs such as Head Start. Other problems confronting children in their homes, include child abuse, kidnapping by parents, and child custody battles, must be handled at the local government level by courts and social service agencies. The awarding of child custody based on the best interests of the child legal standard and the development of magnet schools, must be handled by state legislatures and state courts. The private sector has responsibilities in the area of children's television programming. Drawing from his experience as a former district attorney, Senator Spector points out that innovative approaches to juvenile justice must be encouraged at all levels of government, citing as an example, restitution, as an alternative to probation or incarceration. 6 footnotes.