(Approved 1996)

Juvenile justice systems include court, probation, parole, prevention and intervention programs and agencies responding to delinquent and other behaviors identified in juvenile statutes. The system may encompass delinquents, status offenders and victims of abuse and neglect. Juvenile justice system agencies are urged to develop policies, programs and practices reflecting the following principles:

Juvenile justice systems must have the flexibility to meet the needs of the broad range of children and youth served, from the most violent youth to those children who are victims of abuse and neglect. The judicial process, treatment and authority vested must be responsive to the needs of children and youth and to protecting society. For many years studies have shown that child abuse and neglect are predictive of delinquent behavior and adult crime. Moreover, general societal attitudes of intolerance of differences and glorification of violence contribute to these same behaviors. These root causes must be addressed through appropriate intervention throughout the juvenile justice process as well as through changes at the community level. Therefore:

1. The juvenile justice system must offer a continuum of services which includes the appropriate resources to meet the needs of children and youth who are victims and/or offenders. Such a continuum should offer a range of services from prevention and early intervention to remedial and extended care and custody while recognizing the importance of partnerships with other systems of service delivery. The priority of this continuum should be, whenever possible, to eliminate the risk of delinquent behavior through primary prevention.
2. Coercive intervention and remedial services should follow the least restrictive principle by offering varying levels of supervision and custodial care. Agencies should develop and use a risk and need assessment procedure to assist in making custody, dispositional and/or supervision decisions.
3. Every effort should be made to address the need of the child or youth for permanence and bonding with the family and home community. To the degree possible, services should be inclusive of, and cognizant of, family issues and needs.
4. Service systems should be built on principles which reflect the individual growth and development of children and youth and provide effective and humane approaches to supervision, custody and treatment while recognizing the uniqueness of each individual child and youth. Service systems should utilize rewards as an integral component in responding to children and youth, and holding them accountable for their behaviors. At the same time, court ordered sanctions and conditions, as well as agency decisions should demonstrate consistency and equity.
5. The restoration of victim, offender and community should be included as part of any service system addressing juvenile delinquency.
6. All agencies, acting on behalf of the government and involved in the life of a child or youth must accept the resulting responsibility to provide services or assist in securing appropriate services which guide and nurture children and youth toward healthy and productive adult lives. This fundamental principle should guide the justice and service delivery processes so that sanctioning and coercive control support and assist healthy emotional and social development.

For more information about APPA position statements, please contact APPA staff at:

E-Mail: appa@csg.org
Phone: 859-244-8203
Fax: 859-244-8001
Mail: American Probation and Parole Association
c/o Council of State Governments
P.O. Box 11910
Lexington, KY 40578-1910