RETHINKING JUVENILE STATUS OFFENSE LAWS: CONSIDERATIONS FOR CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT

Families struggling with a breakdown in communication, trying to control the behavior of an unruly child, or experiencing a crisis often look for outside help. Many families, particularly those without resources to pay for private support, turn to their local status offense system. Status offenders are young people charged with behavior unique to their status as juveniles such as running away, truancy, or disobedience. In 2007, Congress will begin to consider reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), the federal act related to status‐offender policy. By providing an overview of recent state status‐offense legislation and case law, this article identifies issues to be addressed by Congress in reauthorizing the JJDPA.     

The Effects of Family Contact on Community Reentry Plans Among Incarcerated Youths

Research shows protective factors that mitigate risks for juvenile delinquency can also support the community reentry of incarcerated youths and deter future offending. Family engagement, educational attainment, and secure employment are widely accepted as important protective factors to prevent problematic behavior. Studies suggest these same protective factors are crucial for incarcerated youths and should be an integral part of reentry planning to improve post-release outcomes. Nevertheless, limited research exists on the association between these factors and the value of family involvement in reentry planning for incarcerated youths. This study addresses this gap by examining how increased family contact affects the likelihood of instituting education and employment reentry plans among youths in custody. Data were obtained from the Survey of Youth in Residential Placement (SYRP) that provides information on juvenile offenders in confinement. The SYRP is the first nationally representative cross-sectional survey to gather information directly from youths 10–20 years old in custody (N=7,073). Analyses were conducted using a sequence of regression models to test the relationship between the frequency of family contact and whether a youth had a plan for education or employment upon release. Results reflect that youths with increased family contact were one and a half times more likely to have both educational and employment reentry plans in place relative to youths with no family contact. Findings inform practice and policy to advocate for family involvement with youth in confinement, and further suggest that family plays a decisive role in preparing incarcerated youths for success upon release.     

从判决书看缓刑的适用

刑事司法政策、缓刑制度功能、刑法条文规定、犯罪案件类型及被告人自身情况等都是影响缓刑适用的因素。从判决书反映的情况来看,不管是基层法院还是中级法院,故意伤害案件和交通肇事案件缓刑适用率都相对较高,财产类犯罪案件则较少适用。在实践中,缓刑的适用主要存在对宽严相济刑事政策的把握不准,缓刑监督考察机制不健全等问题。可以考虑从这两方面入手完善我国的缓刑制度。     

论缓刑的法律性质--兼评缓刑考验期满后再犯罪成立累犯的合理性

缓刑在不同的刑事诉讼阶段所表现的主要特性是不同的,因而对其性质进行分阶段的界定也就有了现实的依据和合理性。从决定是否对犯罪分子宣告缓刑的意义上来说,缓刑有刑罚裁量的性质;从对犯罪分子具体适用缓刑的各项规定的意义上来说,缓刑又具有刑罚执行的性质。缓刑,兼具刑罚裁量和刑罚执行两重性质。在明确缓刑具有刑罚执行的法律性质的前提下,认定缓刑考验期满后再犯相应之罪的犯罪分子为累犯,就有了理论以及法律上的合理性。此种处置,从一般预防和特殊预防的角度来看,既符合中国社会重视行为人主观意志的现实,又能更好发挥刑罚预防犯罪的功能,也是符合我国现行刑事政策和法律规定的。     

The implementation of case formulation by probation officers: service user and carer views

Background: The recent UK Government strategy on high-risk offenders with personality disorders (PD) proposes improved identification of this group, assessment of their treatment needs through case formulation (CF) and the subsequent provision of treatment pathways. Little is known about service user and carer views on this strategy. Aims/Hypotheses: This study sought to identify the views of personality-disordered (PD) offenders and carers on the proposed role of Probation staff in CF. Methods: Three focus groups were carried out, two with service users and one with carers, with a total of 10 participants overall. Results: Five themes emerged: ‘power’, ‘conflicting roles’, ‘trust’, ‘building a relationship through consistency of care’ and ‘hope and possibility’. Conclusions/Practical implications: Offenders and carers were sceptical regarding the proposed role of Offender Manager (OMs) in CF and this could pose a potential barrier to the successful implementation of the strategy.     

论未成年人犯罪案件中的相关信息调查——我国新《刑事诉讼法》第二百六十八条之理解与适用

针对启动事由在法条规定的基础上,提出涉案未成年人基于自己的权益需要也应赋予其信息调查的申请启动权,另外相关未成年人的社会保护团体在面临特殊情况时也可建议涉案未成年人或者公检法启动信息调查。在信息调查主体方面提出参照先前司法解释,由公检法三机关协商共同委托社区矫正工作部门来进行信息调查。最后提出在信息调查的内容方面要与司解内容相对接,与试点经验相融合,与身心特点相协调,与嫌疑罪名相对应的构想。     

论减刑假释暂予监外执行备案审查程序的构建

中央政法委对原县处级以上职务犯罪罪犯减刑、假释、暂予监外执行的，规定了备案审查程序。但对备案审查的性质、标准、方式、效力、救济途径和适用依据等方面规定不明确，学界和实务部门产生了争议。分析后认为，减刑、假释、暂予监外执行的备案审查的性质应为政法机关的内部监督，而不是行政／司法审批；建议备案审查采取合法性审查为主、合理性审查为辅的标准；备案审查的方式，可以对原县处级以上职务犯罪罪犯采取列举式，其他罪犯采取抽举式；备案审查机关的审查结论不应具有改变决定机关减刑、假释、暂予监外执行裁决的效力；对备案审查机关的审查结论不服的，应分别赋予被审查机关和因此受到影响的罪犯提起复查的权利；备案审查的依据应根据《意见》的精神由最高人民法院、最高人民检察院、司法部和公安部联合制定规范法律文件；对同一案件，应由做出裁决的机关向相应的上级机关报请备案审查，而不是相关机关分别备案审查。     

浅析未成年人犯罪

我国的未成年人犯罪已成为社会各界所普遍关注的问题之一。本文概括出未成年人犯罪的基本状况和心理行为的特点,着重探讨了未成年人犯罪的主客观原因,从社会、学校和家庭三方面进行了系统分析,重点分析了社会因素中的网络因素及家庭教育因素。通过预测分析未成年人犯罪的发展趋势,有针对性地提出了预防未成年人犯罪的基本对策。     

对青少年罪犯在改造中“反复”现象的探析

"反复"现象的产生,源于罪犯新旧动机体系的斗争.当错误动机占据优势时,就不可避免地重犯新错,出现"反复".青少年罪犯在改造中出现的"反复"多是由情感、意志动摇引起的,是前进中的"反复".监狱人民警察要多从积极方面看待"反复",对出现"反复"的青少年罪犯,教育改造工作一定要耐心细致,要靠良好行为的强化训练压缩"反复"生存的空间.     

不良书刊对青少年犯罪的影响及防范对策

青少年犯罪是一个复杂的社会现象，其中，不良书刊对青少年的侵蚀和毒害是造成青少年犯罪不可忽视的重要原因之一。由于青少年可塑性大、意志力薄弱，不良书刊不仅对青少年犯罪起诱发、教唆作甲，而且对青少年犯罪心理的最后形成起强化作用，必须采取积极有效措施，制止和根除不良书刊对青少年的影响。