A Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent and Chronic Juvenile Offenders
A Forum — November 7, 1997
Fear of increased juvenile crime has led to federal and state policies that are inconsistent with statistical realities. A "Comprehensive Strategy" designed by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) is providing tools for system reform in local communities.
The Truth About Juvenile Crime
Juveniles are responsible for what percent of violent crime? Dr. Barry Krisberg, President, NCCD says juvenile crime statistics are misleading and can be manipulated to feed public fears. Data show that the national crime rate of adults and youth is essentially flat based on eight "index" offences--murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, aggravated assault, burglary, armed robbery, larceny and arson. While 19 percent of index crimes are committed by youth, index crimes do not include all violent or serious offenses. Juvenile courts see primarily property and drug offenses, not violent crimes. Arrest rates are less reliable than crimes "cleared by arrest" as juveniles are often arrested in groups. Of violent crimes "cleared by arrest," 13 percent of the arrests were of juveniles. This is so close to the 11 percent proportion of juveniles in society that it suggests that youth do not contribute disproportionately to the crime rate. In fact, violent arrests are coming down, including arrests of younger adolescents. The good news is "we will not be invaded by super predators," although many are saying this is still the case.
Juvenile Justice Trends
What are the state and national trends in juvenile justice? At the federal level, the trend has been to toughen sentencing, increase incarceration rates and spend less on preventive strategies. However, the juvenile justice system has been largely untouched by federal legislative action.
While more severe crime legislation continues to be considered at the federal level, states have already undertaken measures to toughen the system. The state trends have directly impacted juvenile justice in trying some juveniles as adults, sending juveniles to adult systems, and changing sentencing structure and rules of confidentiality. In fact, the Center for Juvenile Justice called the changes at the state level a "sea change in juvenile justice." Federal and state juvenile justice trends are out of sync with the actual level of youth crime and are mistakenly moving away from preventive measures. However, Krisberg contends that the federal crime bill is not the problem. It just formalizes what the states are doing anyway: "the damage has ALREADY been done in the states."
The Good News
The National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) worked with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice to develop a guidebook for implementing a "Comprehensive Strategy" (The Guide for Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders, 1995) to address juvenile justice and delinquency issues based on research of effective practice in the field. Several communities winning competitive grants are now in the process of implementing the Comprehensive Strategy. Law enforcement and elected officials in each community now sit down together, agree on basic principles, and compare notes and programs. These planning groups are sensitive to the need for the local communities to consider these efforts as serious responses to crime. Therefore, longer term interventions, such as family home visits, are coupled with short-term, more visible interventions.
Good news is also found in innovative and effective programs and policies in both juvenile justice and job training. The Department of Justice and NCCD have both worked to share these positive findings. Among effective practices, Dr. Krisberg believes that sustained employment is critical in deterring young people from crime careers and stopping such careers already begun. Counseling and therapy are only part of the needs of juvenile offenders. No person can be successful in this society without a job. Short-term employment is not as effective--sometimes it just puts money in the hands of young people ill-equipped to spend it wisely and introduces them to negative older adolescents. Education should also be part of effective juvenile justice programs.
Conclusion
State and federal laws can be passed, but many practitioners are resisting the severity of the changes. Krisberg asks, "how would legislators react if they were facing a 90 pound, 15-year-old in the courtroom and considering sending them to prison with adults? Is that justice?" Krisberg contends that "the local law enforcement community has never been more oriented to prevention and youth development" and is increasingly focusing on early intervention and in the importance of extending the focus beyond juvenile crime to cutting adult violence, abuse and domestic violence. While additional data on effective practice are needed on prevention, rehabilitation and aftercare local law enforcement communities are putting what they do know into practice.