Understanding Risk Assessment in Arkansas Juvenile Court: Tips for the Practitioner in a Time of Change
Arkansas Law Notes, 2009
12 Pages Posted: 9 May 2011
Date Written: June 1, 2009
Abstract
The juvenile justice system in Arkansas has changed substantially in the past century. Recently, the legislature has focused its efforts on reducing the commitment of juvenile offenders. In 1989, the Arkansas Senate found that the number of juveniles committed to Youth Services Centers was quickly increasing and many of the juvenile offenders in secure detention were not in need of commitment. The Arkansas General Assembly recommended that the Governor establish a committee to review and establish the criteria to commit a juvenile to the Youth Services Centers. The Center for the Study of Youth Policy (“CSYP”) analyzed case file information for the 365 male and 38 female youth committed to Youth Services Centers and the 106 juveniles committed to the Department of Corrections for the first nine months of 1989 as a basis for the committee report.
Keywords: Risk Assessment, Juvenile Court, Juvenile Justice
JEL Classification: K00, K19, K39, K40
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation