ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 noted that the emphasis of the juvenile courts that were established in the early 20th century in the United States was placed more on the characteristics and needs of the youths who were drawn into the courts’ jurisdiction than on the types of crimes these youth committed or the type of punishment they should receive. Under the parens-patriae philosophy, there was no need to make distinctions between those youths who were in need of assistance and supervision and those who were violators of criminal laws. e juvenile court, under the authority vested in it by the state, had the mission of providing supervision and care for those children who came before it, just as a good parent was required to provide such oversight. Children who had followed a path of crime from very early in their childhood were placed in Houses of Refuge and corrections centers along with children who had committed no o€ense against society but had the misfortune of being orphaned,
Introduction: Juvenile Justice Models 219 Changes in Juvenile Court Philosophy and Orientation 220 Jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court 221 Di€erences between Juvenile Courts and Family Courts 223 Juvenile Court Administration 224 Introduction of Youths into the Juvenile Justice System for At-Fault Behavior 243 Formal Processing in the Juvenile Court 249 Role of the Prosecutor in the Juvenile Court 250 Judicial Waiver to Adult Criminal Courts 253 Adjudication and Disposition 261 Conclusion 264 Court Cases 265 References 265
abandoned, neglected, or disobedient to parents or school o–cials. Many of the abandoned, neglected, and abused children were not involved in behavior that was in violation of the criminal law, but their guilt or innocence was immaterial. e state, as a substitute parent, had the power to intervene in the lives of both those children who were at fault and those who were not at fault, because the court was not concerned with punishing the children but rather interested in providing opportunities for rehabilitation and change so that the youths could become functioning members of society.
