HISTORY OF JUVENILE COURTS

William Wesley Patton

CONTEMPORARY JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND JUVENILE DETENTION ALTERNATIVES

William Wesley Patton

JUVENILE CRIME AND VIOLENCE

De ey !" Co#nell Daniel C" M$##ie

HISTORY OF JUVENILE COURTS

T%e &$'enile (o$#t an) its *%iloso*%y o+ t#eatin, mino#s %o 'iolate t%e (#iminal la )i++e#ently t%an a)$lts is -a#ely a (ent$#y ol)" Histo#i(ally. &$'enile (#iminals e#e t#eate) t%e same as a)$lt (#iminals" The Law Prior to the Creation of the Juvenile Court P$nis%ment as t%e (ent#al (#iminal la *%iloso*%y in En,lis% (ommon la " A (on(l$si'e *#es$m*tion t%at (%il)#en $n)e# se'en (o$l) not +o#m (#iminal intent eliminate) t%e yo$n,est +#om t%e (#iminal &$sti(e system" C%il)#en -et een t%e a,es o+ se'en an) +o$#teen e#e *#es$me) in(om*etent to +o#m t%e #e/$isite (#iminal intent0 t%e *#ose($to#. %o e'e#. (o$l) #e-$t t%at *#es$m*tion -y )emonst#atin, t%at t%e (%il) 1ne t%e )i++e#en(e -et een #i,%t an) #on," C%il)#en o'e# a,e +o$#teen e#e *#es$me) to %a'e t%e (a*a(ity to +o#m (#iminal intent" T%e#e e#e no s*e(ial (o$#ts +o# (%il)#en. an) t%ey e#e t#eate) as a)$lt (#iminals" Mino#s e#e a##este). %el) in ($sto)y. an) t#ie) an) senten(e) -y a (o$#t t%at %a) )is(#etion to o#)e# t%e (%il) im*#isone) in t%e same &ail as a)$lt (#iminals" Alt%o$,% (%il)#en #e(ei'e) t%e same *$nis%ment as a)$lts. t%ey e#e not *#o'i)e) it% many o+ t%e )$e *#o(ess *#ote(tions a((o#)e) a)$lt (#iminals" Fo# instan(e. mino#s )i) not %a'e a #i,%t to 2-ail. in)i(tment -y ,#an) &$#y. 3an)4 #i,%t to a *$-li( t#ial2 5Con a#). *" 678" Alt%o$,% t%e ea#ly Ame#i(an (olonies a)o*te) t%e En,lis% (ommon la s #e,a#)in, (%il) (#iminals. +#om 79:; $ntil 79<< se'e#al #e+o#m mo'ements initiate) si,ni+i(ant (%an,es -ot% in *%iloso*%y an) in t#eatment o+ &$'enile )elin/$ents" =$a1e# #e+o#me#s s*$##e) t%e Ne Yo#1 Le,islat$#e in 79:6 to *ass le,islation (#eatin, a

Ho$se o+ Re+$,e. %i(% se*a#ate) *oo# (%il)#en an) &$'enile )elin/$ents +#om a)$lt (#iminals" T%e ,oal o+ t%e Ho$se o+ Re+$,e mo'ement as -ot% to *#e'ent *#e)elin/$ents +#om -e(omin, (#iminals an) to #e+o#m t%ose %o %a) al#ea)y (ommitte) (#imes" T%e &$),e %a) )is(#etion to )ete#mine %i(% &$'enile )elin/$ents mi,%t *#o*e#ly -ene+it +#om t%e Ho$se o+ Re+$,e0 (%il) (#iminals $nli1ely to #e+o#m e#e maintaine) in a)$lt *#isons" The First Juvenile Court P#o,#essi'e #e+o#me#s in Illinois *e#s$a)e) t%e le,islat$#e to *ass t%e 79<< Illinois J$'enile Co$#t A(t (#eatin, Ame#i(a>s +i#st &$'enile (o$#t" T%e a(t a)o*te) t%e ea#ly En,lis% (ommon la parens patriae *%iloso*%y in *#o'i)in, t%at 2t%e (a#e. ($sto)y an) )is(i*line o+ a (%il) s%all a**#o?imate as nea#ly as may -e t%at %i(% s%o$l) -e ,i'en -y its *a#ents"2 Se'e#al $ni/$e +eat$#es (%a#a(te#i@e) t%e ea#ly &$'enile (o$#t" Fi#st. -e(a$se #e+o#mation as t%e ,oal. t%e system +o($se) mo#e on t%e in)i'i)$al (%il) #at%e# t%an on t%e nat$#e o+ t%e (#iminal o++ense" Se(on). -e(a$se t%e time it%in %i(% #e+o#mation (o$l) -e a((om*lis%e) 'a#ie) it% t%e (%il). in)ete#minate senten(es o+ten e?(ee)e) t%e )ete#minate senten(es t%at a)$lt (#iminals #e(ei'e) +o# (ommittin, t%e i)enti(al (#iminal a(t" T%i#). &$'enile )elin/$ents e#e se*a#ate) +#om a)$lt (#iminals -e(a$se t%ey e#e )i++e#ent in 1in)" A)$lt (#iminals e#e mo#ally -lame o#t%y0 (%il)#en e#e me#ely t%e *#o)$(ts o+ t%ei# en'i#onment an) t%e#e+o#e #et#i-$ti'e *$nis%ment as not a##ante)" Fo$#t%. -e(a$se &$'enile (o$#t *#o(ee)in,s e#e not (#iminal. (%il)#en e#e not entitle) to t%e +$ll *ano*ly o+ )$e *#o(ess *#ote(tions a((o#)e) a)$lt (#iminals" In+o#mality *e#mitte) t%e (o$#t to (onsi)e# all +a(ts #ele'ant to )ete#minin, t%e (%il)>s #e+o#mation *lan" Petitions #e*la(e) (#iminal (om*laints. s$mmons #e*la(e) a##ants. ($sto)y #e*la(e) a##est. )etention #e*la(e) (on+inement. initial %ea#in,s #e*la(e) a##ai,nments. an) )elin/$en(y #e*la(e) (on'i(tion" Fi+t%. &$'enile (o$#ts %a) -#oa) )is(#etion to +as%ion inno'ati'e #e%a-ilitation *#o,#ams not al ays a'aila-le in a)$lt (o$#ts. s$(% as #elease $*on in+o#mal 'ol$nta#y *#o-ation (on)itions" Si?t%. te(%ni(al e'i)entia#y #$les e#e ina**li(a-le in &$'enile (o$#t -e(a$se t%ey im*e)e) t%e &$),e +#om )ete#minin, all +a(ts ne(essa#y to )ete#mine t%e in)i'i)$ali@e) t#eatment ne(essa#y to #e%a-ilitate t%e mino#" Alt%o$,% t%e ,oals o+ t%e &$'enile (o$#t e#e la$)a-le. many %isto#ians %a'e -emoane) t%e system>s #ealities" In 7<AB t%e %a#s%est (#iti(. San+o#) Fo?. te#me) t%e #e+o#me#s> le,islation 2a (olossal +ail$#e2 5*" 7::68" It -e(ame a**a#ent t%at t%e in+o#mal *#o(e)$#es an) almost $n-#i)le) )is(#etion o+ &$'enile (o$#t &$),es o+ten s$**lie) mino#s it% lessC+ai# *#o(e)$#es an) t#eatment t%an a)$lts #e(ei'e)" In a +amo$s 79D< Pennsyl'ania (ase. Ex parte Crouse, t%e (o$#t e?*#esse) t%e ,ene#al 'ie o+ Ame#i(an (o$#ts t%at -e(a$se t%e ,oal o+ &$'enile &$sti(e is #e%a-ilitation. not

*$nis%ment. t%e )$e *#o(ess *#ote(tions a++o#)e) a)$lt (#iminals nee) not -e *#o'i)e) to &$'enilesE 2T%e Ho$se o+ Re+$,e is not a *#ison. -$t a s(%ool" W%e#e #e+o#mation. an) not *$nis%ment is t%e en)2 t%e +o#malities o+ t%e (#iminal (o$#t a#e not #e/$i#e)" In a))ition. t%e &$'enile (o$#t>s ,oal o+ in)i'i)$ali@e) t#eatment o+ten la(1e) o-&e(ti'e (#ite#ia an) (on+li(te) it% notions o+ &$sti(e" Fy t%e 7<GBs (#iti(s s*o1e o+ t%e )emise o+ t%e &$'enile (o$#t. an) t%ey 2#aise) /$estions a-o$t t%e e++e(t on &$'eniles o+ t%e la(1 o+ )$e *#o(ess *#o(e)$#es an) *#ote(tion o+ in)i'i)$al #i,%ts2 5Sa##i. *" ;8"

In re Gault an the Constitution

T%e assa$lt on t%e #e+o#m mo'ement -e,an it% a 7<GG (ase in t%e U"S" S$*#eme Co$#t. Kent v. United States, %i(% %el) t%at $n)e# a Dist#i(t o+ Col$m-ia stat$te t%e in+o#mal *#o(ess o+ )ete#minin, %et%e# a &$'enile s%o$l) -e t#ie) in &$'enile o# in a)$lt (o$#t +aile) to *#o'i)e s$++i(ient )$e *#o(ess *#ote(tion +o# (%il)#en" T%e Co$#t %el) t%at -e+o#e a mino# is t#ans+e##e) to a)$lt (o$#t t%e (%il) is entitle) to an in+o#mal %ea#in, %e#e t%e t#ial (o$#t m$st a#ti($late t%e #easons +o# t%e t#ans+e# so t%at t%e (%il) (an %a'e an a)e/$ate #e(o#) +o# a**ellate #e'ie " A))itionally. in #es*onse to t%e state>s *osition t%at &$'enile (ases e#e (i'il. not (#iminal. t%e Co$#t #es*on)e). 2T%e#e is e'i)en(e. in +a(t. t%at t%e#e may -e ,#o$n)s +o# (on(e#n t%at t%e (%il) #e(ei'es t%e o#st o+ -ot% o#l)s0 t%at %e ,ets neit%e# t%e *#ote(tions a((o#)e) to a)$lts no# t%e soli(ito$s (a#e an) #e,ene#ati'e t#eatment *ost$late) +o# (%il)#en"2 T%e Co$#t t%e#e-y #e&e(te) t%e #e+o#m mo'ement>s &$sti+i(ation +o# in+o#mality in &$'enile )elin/$en(y (ases" An) a yea# late# in In re Gault, t%e Co$#t set t%e )$e *#o(ess -o$n)a#ies -et een a)$lt (#iminal *#o(e)$#e an) &$'enile )elin/$en(y t#ials" Fi#st. t%e Co$#t #e&e(te) t%e #e+o#me#s> (laims t%at t%e &$'enile &$sti(e system a(($#ately an) +ai#ly )ete#mine) (%il)#en>s (#iminal #es*onsi-ilityE 2Un)e# o$# Constit$tion. t%e (on)ition o+ -ein, a -oy )oes not &$sti+y a 1an,a#oo (o$#t"2 Se(on). alt%o$,% Gault #e&e(te) t%e a#,$ment t%at t%e Fo$#teent% Amen)ment )$e *#o(ess (la$se #e/$i#es i)enti(al )$e *#o(ess *#o(e)$#es +o# a)$lts an) &$'eniles. t%e Co$#t )ete#mine) t%at &$'eniles m$st at least #e(ei'e alte#nati'e e/$i'alents" T%$s. in a &$'enile )elin/$en(y t#ial. (%il)#en a#e entitle) toE 578 noti(e o+ t%e (%a#,es. 5:8 a #i,%t to (o$nsel. 5D8 a #i,%t to (on+#ontation an) (#ossCe?amination. an) 568 a *#i'ile,e a,ainst sel+Cin(#imination" T%e U"S" S$*#eme Co$#t /$i(1ly +ollo e) t%e Kent an) Gault (ases it% t%e 7<AB (ase In re Winship, %i(% %el) t%at &$'enile )elin/$en(y #e/$i#es t%e 2-eyon) a #easona-le )o$-t2 a)$lt stan)a#) o+ *#oo+. an) t%e 7<A7 (ase McKiever v. Pennsylvania, %i(% %el) t%at &$'eniles (%a#,e) it% a (#iminal la 'iolation a#e not entitle) to a &$#y t#ial -e(a$se t%e Si?t% Amen)ment #i,%t to &$#y t#ial a**lies only to (#iminal a(tions an) -e(a$se &$#ies o$l) s$-stantially e'is(e#ate t%e -ene+i(ial as*e(ts o+ t%e &$'enile (o$#t>s 2*#os*e(t o+ an intimate. in+o#mal *#ote(ti'e *#o(ee)in,"2

T%e U"S" S$*#eme Co$#t>s &$'enile )elin/$en(y )$e *#o(ess (ases $s%e#e) in a *e#io) o+ #e+o#m in state &$'enile (o$#t systems t%at laste) almost a )e(a)e" In 7<A6 t%e P#esi)ent>s Commission on La En+o#(ement an) A)minist#ation o+ J$sti(e as esta-lis%e) to st$)y t%e )e+i(ien(ies in t%e &$'enile )elin/$en(y system" T%e (ommission $#,e) mo#e non&$)i(ial se#'i(e a,en(y inte#'ention +o# *#e)elin/$ents an) #e(ommen)e) limitations on t%e (on+inement o+ mino#s" In!rease an "ore Serious Juvenile Cri#e F#om t%e mi)C7<9Bs to t%e ea#ly 7<<Bs t%e national &$'enile (#ime #ate #ose )#amati(ally0 2*#o*e#ty (#ime -y &$'eniles in(#ease) 77 *e#(ent nationally -et een 7<9D an) 7<<:. 3an)4 'iolent (#ime in(#ease) -y ;A *e#(ent2 5Fel). **" <AGH<AA8" D$#in, t%is same *e#io). me)ia (o'e#a,e o+ &$'enile (#ime )#amati(ally in(#ease)" E'en t%o$,% t%e +#e/$en(y an) (ontent o+ ne s (o'e#a,e o+ten e?a,,e#ate) t%e #ise in yo$t% (#ime. t%e (o'e#a,e %a) an eno#mo$s im*a(t on t%e *$-li(>s (all +o# mo#e *#ote(tion +o# (iti@ens an) +o# %a#s%e# t#eatment o+ &$'eniles (ommittin, se#io$s (#iminal a(ts" In #eality. )$#in, t%e )e(a)e 7<9AH7<<A only G *e#(ent o+ Ame#i(an &$'eniles e#e a##este) an) +e e# t%an B"; *e#(ent e#e a##este) +o# 'iolent (#imes" Ne'e#t%eless. state le,islat$#es /$i(1ly #es*on)e) to t%e *$-li(>s +ea# o+ #isin, &$'enile (#ime #ates -y s$-stantially mo)i+yin, t%e &$'enile (o$#t *#o(ess"

Rea) mo#eE J$'enile J$sti(e System C Contem*o#a#y J$'enile J$sti(e System An) J$'enile Detention Alte#nati'es. J$'enile C#ime An) Violen(e C HISTORY OF JUVENILE COURTS. In #e !a$lt an) t%e Constit$tion C StateUni'e#sity"(om %tt*EIIe)$(ation"state$ni'e#sity"(omI*a,esI:76DIJ$'enileCJ$sti(eC System"%tmlJi?@@:/W%#7T#t