Juvenile detention decisions : a study of the Influence of legal and extralegal factors

Hill, Brian J. (2002) Juvenile detention decisions : a study of the Influence of legal and extralegal factors . Master's Thesis, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Central Connecticut State University.

Abstract

Contrary to the accepted justifications for the use of detention, research suggests that decision-makers often use detention for the purposes of storage, punishment, and protection of children. The current research examines the influence of legal and extralegal factors on detention decisions. The research is based on data gathered from a detention district in Connecticut that serves urban, suburban, and rural jurisdictions. The primary findings of this study suggest that the sex and age of the child influence detention decisions. Furthermore, detained children had significantly fewer charges than those children who were released. Implications of the findings, as well as suggestions for future research are discussed.