Minimizing Justice Contact for Juvenile Domestic Violence: Policing Decisions, Alternative Placement and Informal Sanctions

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract

The papers in this panel focus on alternative justice responses to minor and severe youth violence in the home. The first paper outlines issues related to policing decisions to arrest, examining the effect of a mandatory arrest statute, age of offending and the social welfare climate of the police jurisdiction. The second paper describes the success of a program designed to connect families to services after arrest but without formally referring cases to court (pre-filing). Early results on the challenges and impact of the program will be discussed. The third paper examines the outcomes of youth placed in respite care across the state of Florida compared to youth eligible for respite but detained. The implications of this comparative study on alternative models are discussed.

Sub Unit

• Area IX: Juvenile Crime and the Justice System / 59: Juvenile Justice Policies and Practices

Individual Presentations

• The Influence of Social Welfare Climate and Mandatory Arrest on Policing Decisions in Juvenile Domestic Violence Incidents - Sarah Walker, University of Washington

• The Success of Diverting Juvenile Domestic Violence Cases to Services with Informal Sanctions : The FIRS Center - Claudia Gross-Shader, City of Seattle Office of City Auditor

• Missed Opportunities to Place Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Youth in Alternatives to Secure Detention - Meg Ogle, Florida State University; Julie Pla, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice

Chair

• Sarah Walker, University of Washington

Discussant

• Mark A. Greenwald, Florida State University