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JUVENILE JUSTICE AND THE POLICE - TRAINING MANUAL

NCJ Number
46453
Date Published
1978
Length
203 pages
Annotation
THIS TRAINNG MANUAL WAS DEVELOPED FOR A NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT'S POLICE ACADEMY INSERVICE PROGRAM DEALING WITH THE THEORY AND PRACTICAL HANDLING OF JUVENILE CRIME AND CHILD ABUSE.
Abstract
DURING 1976, THE TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT ISSUED 29,582 YOUTH REFERRAL REPORTS, 59 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER ISSUED IN NEW YORK CITY. IN ADDITION, 7,934 YOUTH CONTACT REPORTS FOR TRUANCY WERE ISSUED. BECAUSE THE TRANSIT POLICE HAVE SO MANY CONTACTS WITH JUVENILES, THIS TRAINING MANUAL WAS ISSUED TO HELP PATROL OFFICERS IDENTIFY AND PROPERLY HANDLE DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE MANUAL OPENS WITH A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN NEW YORK CITY. IT THEN DETAILS NEW YORK STATE JUVENILE LAW IN GENERAL AND THE CASE LAW WHICH SPELLS OUT THE RIGHTS OF JUVENILES TO DUE PROCESS. THEORIES ON CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENT, LABELING, THE FAMILY, AND VARIOUS MEDICAL-BIOLOGICAL THEORIES. A SECTION ON DIVERSION VERSUS ARREST DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 'CRIME' AND 'VIOLATION OF THE LAW': FOR THE LATTER, AN ARREST CANNOT BE MADE, BUT A PETITION CAN BE FILED IN FAMILY COURT. THE DIFFERENT COURSES OF ACTION RESULTING FROM DIVERSION OR ARREST ARE TRACED, THE CRITERIA FOR FAMILY COURT ACTION ARE GIVEN, AND PROOF NECESSARY IF A CRIME IS TO BE PROSECUTED IS DETAILED. FINAL CHAPTERS DISCUSS YOUTH AND ALCOHOL AND YOUTH AND DRUGS, AS WELL AS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. APPENDIXES INCLUDE SAMPLES OF JUVENILE FORMS USED BY THE NEW YORK CITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART FOR THE JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION UNIT, AND A LIST OF LOCATIONS DESIGNATED FOR INTERROGATION OF JUVENILES. (GLR)