Title

Individualization, criminalization, or problem resolution: A factorial survey of juvenile court judges' decisions to incarcerate youthful felony offenders

Authors

Authors

B. K. Applegate; M. G. Turner; J. B. Sanborn; E. J. Latessa;M. M. Moon

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Justice Q.

Keywords

GENDER BIAS; JUSTICE; RACE; DISPOSITIONS; PUNISHMENT; ATTITUDES; CONTEXT; WAIVER; URBAN; DRINK; Criminology & Penology

Abstract

Existing research on the, criteria used by juvenile court judges in choosing dispositions is limited in two respects. First, the predictor variables included in most investigations have been limited either in number or in the quality of their measurement. Second, research has not focused on sentencing decisions for serious offenders. Using a factorial survey of juvenile court judges, the present study seeks to determine what factors shape disposition decisions for juvenile felony offenders. The results suggest that judges focus primarily on offense characteristics, and are influenced only marginally by the offender's social characteristics. These findings are more consistent with the view that juvenile courts are becoming "criminalized" than with the view that individualized treatment is the goal. An alternative interpretation-that judges may be problem solvers, trying to dispose of cases efficiently-also is proposed.

Journal Title

Justice Quarterly

Volume

17

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2000

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

309

Last Page

331

WOS Identifier

WOS:000087279600004

ISSN

0741-8825

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